Bradycardia Your Health
About the Therapy
About Pacemakers
About Pacemakers
A pacemaker sends electrical impulses to restore the heart's rhythm. Today's pacemakers weigh about 28 grams, and are not much bigger than a Canadian Toonie.
Bradycardia is a slow rhythm, usually fewer than 60 beats per minute. At this rate, the heart is not able to pump enough oxygen-rich blood to your body during normal activity or exercise. As a result, you may feel dizzy or have chronic lack of energy, shortness of breath, or even fainting spells.
What Is It?
Pacemaker therapy is the most common way to treat bradycardia. A pacemaker helps restore the heart's rhythm. By sending tiny electrical signals to the heart to increase the heart rate, a pacemaker can relieve the symptoms of bradycardia.
Pacemakers
A pacing system is made up of a pacemaker, one or two leads, and a programmer. The pacemaker sends tiny electrical impulses to pace the heart when its own rhythm is too slow or irregular. The pacing lead is an insulated wire that carries the impulse from the pacemaker to the heart to assist its beating.
Benefits and Risks
All treatment and outcome results are specific to the individual patient, and will form part of your consultation with your healthcare professional.
Please consult your healthcare professional for a full list of benefits, indications, precautions, clinical results, and other important medical information that pertains to pacemaker therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn about some of the commonly asked questions regarding pacemakers.
Next: What Is It?
Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information.