From an interview with
Dr. Prabal Guha
McLeod Cardiology Associates

Slow hearts sometimes just need a little help, and that’s where the pacemaker comes in, according to McLeod Electrophysiologist Dr. Prabal Guha:

Here’s a summary of Dr. Guha’s remarks:

A pacemaker is a small device with electrical wires that acts as a stimulator to keep the heart going at a certain rate. In some people, the heart will run very slowly. We implant a pacemaker, where small wires from the pacemaker are connected into the heart to keep monitoring it. And if it requires any intervention, the pacemaker starts giving small electrical pulses to keep the heart going at the right rate. Some newer pacemakers do not even have wires and can be placed directly inside the heart.

In that case, a pacemaker is most commonly used in people with very slow heart rate, which causes them to become tired and dizzy. Sometimes patients undergo surgery that causes the heart to slow down. In other cases, a patient requires medications absolutely essential for them, but the medicine itself can slow the heart down. We put in a pacemaker so that we can keep the heart rate up and maintain their medications.

One misconception patients have about pacemakers is that they’re tied down, and their lifestyle is going to change. Yet, it’s just the opposite. Putting in a pacemaker helps a person have a much better quality of life. There is nothing to be scared of when getting a pacemaker. It is a small surgical implant. The procedure is very safe, and it is supported by experts in the field. And once we get it in, you should be able to live your normal lifestyle or even better than before.

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