Page 30 - Mended Hearts-HeartGuide
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2.9 million = the number Devices and Therapies
of U.S. patients receiving Many of us benefit from implantable devices that keep our heart beating
permanent pacemakers normally. Here are the most common ones:
between 1993 and 2009
Pacemakers
A health provider points to an image showing
a patient with a pacemaker. The sinoatrial (SA) node is our heart’s natural pacemaker, creating the
electrical impulses that cause our heart to beat. For the heart to beat
properly, the SA node’s signal must move down a specific path to the heart’s
ventricles (lower chambers).
When something damages or weakens the heart’s electrical conduction system
it starts to beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly. Causes include birth defects,
heart disease or heart attack, nervous system issues, medication, aging, or a
blockage in the heart’s electrical pathways.
Artificial pacemakers are an effective solution for many patients. They can be
implanted temporarily or permanently to stimulate the heart muscle correctly,
allowing it to beat as it should. Your doctor will check it regularly to make
adjustments and replace the battery. You must also be careful when using cell
phones, at places like airports that use electromagnetic security systems, and
when undergoing medical procedures, such as MRIs and therapeutic radiation.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs)
These devices have been shown to prevent sudden death in patients with
known, sustained ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. Biventricular
cardioverter defibrillators are also used to treat advanced heart failure.
26 Mended Hearts HeartGuide
