How to Live With a Pacemaker
There are times when it boggles the mind to just think of the advances we have made in the fields of medicine and technology. The pacemaker is a pretty simple device, but it makes a world of difference to many people who depend on it for their lives. If you have been fitted with one of these medical devices, there are certain basic precautions that you must follow if you want them to function properly and safely.
• Carry a pacemaker ID, preferably on a bracelet or necklace, to inform those around you
• Inform medical personnel at your workplace that you have a pacemaker
• Tell doctors about your device before you undergo any invasive surgical procedure
• Be careful around machines that have large magnetic fields, like MRI scan units
• Stay away from machinery that uses high voltage or radar
• There’s no need to worry about the effects of common household appliances like refrigerators, televisions, washing machines and cell phones, however you do need to keep your cell phones and other gadgets away from your pacemaker area, it’s preferable not to keep them in your shirt pocket
• MP3 headphones have been known to cause a certain amount of interference, so it’s best not to use them at all
• If there is any thought that an external device is causing the pacemaker to function erratically, move away from the device and wait for your heartbeat to return to normal
• Talk to your doctor about exercising moderately, but be cautious of injuries that directly injure your chest, especially blows to the area that houses the pacemaker, this may affect the way your device functions, so if you are hit in your thoracic region, consult your doctor immediately
• Get regular check-ups on your pacemaker by a doctor to ensure that it is working as it should
• Ensure that the battery, lead wire and other aspects of the device are in good condition
• The pacemaker’s battery generally lasts for around 7 or 8 years
• Get the pacemaker replaced once in 10 years or so
• The pacemaker may contain either a chemical or nuclear power source and for nuclear power sources, dispose of the battery with care once the pacemaker has reached the end of its life
• If you’re unsure or worried about any aspect of your pacemaker, contact your cardiologist immediately
This article is contributed by Sarah Scrafford, who regularly writes on the topic of ultrasound technician school. She invites your questions, comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address: sarah.scrafford25@gmail.com
Image via http://mykentuckyheart.com/
March 23rd, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Hi Sarah
My son had a Medtronic Adapta dual-chamber pacemaker implant last year on the 10th April at the St Augustine’s hospital Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. He was only 19 - He was a professional rugby player and hasn’t played since. However his cardiologist said he can play again…?? Do you have any info on that as well as info on protective gear availability (like what ice hockey players wear)?? Needless to say that this is a big negative in his life at this stage… Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards
January 28th, 2010 at 9:06 am
Thanks for publishing about this. There’s a mass of good tech information on the internet. You’ve got a lot of that info here on your website. I’m impressed - I try to keep a couple blogs reasonably on-going, but it’s a struggle sometimes. You’ve done a solid job with this one. How do you do it?
February 18th, 2010 at 1:50 am
I kind of disagree, but I do see your point.
July 12th, 2010 at 9:10 am
Marvellous post – and good site by the way!