Pacemaker

A pacemaker can help your heart beat normally when you have an arrhythmia or weak heart. At Sacramento Heart & Vascular Medical Associates, the team of pacemaker experts uses the latest technology to place and monitor your pacemaker. The practice has an on-site Pacer Clinic, where specialists use the state-of-the-art Paceart™ system to monitor and manage your health needs effectively. There are two locations in Sacramento and additional offices in Davis and Jackson, California, so call the one nearest you or book an appointment online now. 

What is a pacemaker?

A pacemaker is a battery-powered implantable device that connects to your heart. It helps normalize your heartbeat when it’s not working normally. 

Most pacemakers have a small pulse generator placed under the skin in your chest and connected to lead wires. There are also pacemakers without leads. 

Pacemakers can connect to one upper or lower heart chamber, the upper and lower chambers on the right side of your heart, or both the right and left lower heart chambers.

How does a pacemaker work?

A pacemaker delivers electrical impulses to your heart when you have an arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm). This triggers heart muscle contractions that help your heart pump blood correctly. 

You won’t feel these impulses because a pacemaker essentially takes over for your body’s natural pacemaker (the sinoatrial node) if it’s not working properly. Pacemakers also record your heart’s electrical activity.

At Sacramento Heart & Vascular Medical Associates, the on-site Pacer Clinic uses the leading-edge Paceart™ system to gather, store, and retrieve information from your pacemaker. This gives them detailed data to monitor and direct your treatment effectively.   

What conditions does a pacemaker treat?

The main condition treated by pacemakers is bradycardia, a type of arrhythmia in which your heart beats less than 60 times per minute when at rest. Normally, the resting heartbeat of healthy adults is 60-100 beats per minute.

Bradycardia doesn’t always cause symptoms. However, when your heart beats very slowly, your heart can’t pump enough oxygenated blood. It’s common to experience fatigue, breathing difficulties, and other disruptive symptoms in this situation.

Pacemakers can also treat other problems involving damage to the heart’s natural electrical system, including rapid or irregular heartbeat because of heart failure or heart attack.

When might I need a pacemaker?

The team might recommend a pacemaker if you’re having symptoms of an arrhythmia, such as:

• Dizziness
• Breathing difficulties
• Heart pounding
• Fatigue
• Fainting

The first-line treatment is usually medication and other conservative measures. But, if your symptoms persist, you could be a candidate for a pacemaker. 

How does pacemaker maintenance work?

The Pacer Clinic makes pacemaker maintenance easy. During routine visits, the team can check pacemaker function, battery levels, and settings to make necessary changes. 

A pacemaker can help you live an active and long life. Book your appointment online or call the nearest Sacramento Heart & Vascular Medical Associates today to learn more.