Fainting, heart palpitations, shortness of breath… These may be just a few of the signs that your heart needs help.
A pacemaker saves lives by stepping in when the heart rate becomes too slow or when rhythm disturbances occur. Today, these small devices give millions of people, from newborns to older adults, the chance to live a healthy life.
So what are the signs that you may need a pacemaker? Cardiology specialists share some important clues.
7 Signs That May Mean You Need a Pacemaker
Only a physician can definitively diagnose the need for a pacemaker. However, paying attention to certain signs is important for early awareness. Here are the most common ones:
1. Bradycardia (Slow Heartbeat)
A heart rate below 60 beats per minute is defined as “bradycardia.”
- It is normal for the heart to slow down during sleep.
- Heart rate may naturally decrease with advancing age.
- Athletes may have a low pulse because their hearts work efficiently.
However, if a slow heartbeat is accompanied by complaints such as shortness of breath, dizziness or chest pain, a pacemaker may be needed. Your doctor decides by measuring the heart's electrical activity with tests such as an ECG.
2. Fainting and Feeling Faint
Sudden fainting is one of the clearest signs that the heartbeat has slowed to a dangerous degree. Recurrent fainting episodes may indicate the need for a pacemaker.
3. Constant Fatigue
Extreme weakness and tiring quickly when climbing stairs or after a short walk may indicate that the heart is not beating fast enough. If this becomes chronic, a pacemaker is considered.
4. Dizziness
Frequent dizziness or feeling lightheaded when standing up may be due to an irregular heart rhythm. This is also a condition that can be treated with a pacemaker.
Frequent dizziness or feeling lightheaded when standing up may be due to an irregular heart rhythm.
5. Heart Palpitations
A sudden racing heart, a fluttering feeling, irregular beats or pounding beats… Although not always dangerous, when they recur frequently they may point to a rhythm disorder. In such a case, a pacemaker may be considered.
6. Shortness of Breath
Quickly running out of breath during physical activity or daily tasks may be the result of a slow heartbeat. Pacemakers are also used in the treatment of certain conditions such as heart failure.
7. Chest Pain
Chest pain should always be taken seriously. Although it sometimes stems from rhythm disorders, it can also signal emergencies such as a heart attack, aortic dissection or pulmonary embolism. In particular, with sudden and severe chest pain, you should go to the emergency room without delay.
Life After Getting a Pacemaker
Pacemaker surgery is not as difficult a process as you might think. The device is usually placed under the skin in the upper part of the chest, near the collarbone. Depending on the situation, one, two or three leads may be connected to the heart. Most patients are discharged the same day.
A pacemaker works automatically, and doctors can regularly collect data from the device and adjust it when needed. Wireless, leadless pacemakers developed in recent years are also available.
What You Should Know:
- Long-lasting: Pacemaker batteries usually last 10–15 years. Replacing the battery is a simpler procedure than the initial implantation.
- Not felt: The electrical impulses delivered by the pacemaker usually go unnoticed. Unlike defibrillators, it does not deliver shocks.
- Small: Today's pacemakers are about the size of a tablespoon.
- Durable: Household appliances such as microwave ovens do not damage a pacemaker.
A slow or irregular heartbeat can seriously reduce quality of life. When organs do not receive enough blood and oxygen, both breathing and thinking become harder.
After a pacemaker is implanted, most people begin to feel its positive effects right away. Your resting heart rate increases, everyday activities become easier and your energy for life returns.
If you have some of these symptoms, talking to your doctor to evaluate whether you need a pacemaker can be a healthy step.
The information on our website is not intended to direct individuals to any treatment. Do not take any diagnostic or treatment steps without consulting your doctor. The content does not contain information about İzmir Can Hastanesi's therapeutic healthcare services.
