Posted on 19th February, 2024 at 6:14:26 AM
A pacemaker is a life-saving medical device used to correct an irregular heartbeat. This condition is also known as an arrhythmia. If the heart beats too slowly, i.e. less than 60 beats per minute, it is called bradycardia.Tachycardia is when the heart beats more than 100 times per minute, Best heart specialist in kolkata
When to see a doctor
Heart rate naturally increases with stress or exercise. It’s not always an arrhythmia. However, if you experience dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain, or palpitations, it’s a good idea to see an electrophysiologist. They will make an accurate diagnosis through an electrophysiology study (EP study), so there is no doubt.
When is a Pacemaker Required?
After officially detecting the type of arrhythmia, the Best heart specialist in kolkata will determine if you do need the device for heartbeat correction.
The following symptoms indicate that you might need a pacemaker:
• Frequent dizziness
• Intense pounding in the chest even if you aren’t exercising
• Unable to exercise without getting too winded
• Chronic fatigue even if you’re careful about diet and sleep
• Frequent episodes of fainting
How Does It Work?
The pacemaker consists of two main parts:
• Leads (leads): Insulated electrodes carry signals from the pulse generator to the ventricles of the heart.
• Pulse Generator: This is a metal case that drives electrical signals to the heart and contains a battery. Explained the best cardiologist in Kolkata.
Whenever a pacemaker detects that the heartbeat is too fast or too slow, the pulse generator sends electrical signals down wires directly to the heart to correct it, says a leading cardiologist in Kolkata.
However, as the name suggests, the lead-free pacemaker has no leads because it can be implanted directly into the patient’s heart.This is a relatively new technology and the main specialty of Dr. ANINDYA SARKAR, says the best cardiologist in Kolkata.
In the next section we will show you its advantages.
Benefits of Leadless Pacemakers
The absence of electrodes in leadless pacemakers gives them several advantages over regular pacemakers, remarks Dr. Vanita.
Some of them are:
• No risk of lead fracture or dislodgment
• Better cosmetic appeal as there is no visible pacemaker pocket
• Elimination of hematoma, a condition when blood pools under the skin due to injury
• Smaller size; leadless pacemakers are remarkably 90% smaller compared to their transvenous counterparts.
• No chest incisions
