Though a pacemaker is a small device, it's life-altering effects can't be
overstated. A pacemaker is placed in the chest or abdomen to help control
abnormal heart rhythms. A pacemaker can greatly increase quality of life
whether a patient's heart rate is erratic because of a heart attack, illness or
disease. The most common reason for pacemakers for older adults is arrhythmia
(an abnormal heart rhythm) caused by a disruption to the electrical system of
the ticker. An abnormal rhythm may be caused by a heart attack or other injury
to the ticker, medication, or a genetic condition.
Sign up for a CPR course and face cardiac emergencies efficiently. Select a
certified training site for acquiring training, such as the AHA certified CPR
Kansas City. There are CPR courses for both healthcare as well as
non-healthcare providers.
Here's what you should know about a "BLS for healthcare providers Kansas City" course:
Basic Life Support Classes- This CPR class satisfies
nursing students, dental students, medical students, paramedics, physical
therapy students and all other healthcare providers and employees in any
medical field. This course satisfies a CPR requirement for a school program or
employer.
Difference Between ICDs and Pacemakers:
An ICD is larger than a pacemaker, and is required by patients with fast
and chaotic heart rhythms or who've survived sudden cardiac arrest. It is
implanted in generally the same area near the shoulder and under the
collarbone. The device resets the ticker back to a normal rhythm by delivering
a small electric shock to the ticker if the pulse exceeds a certain rate.
Why Is A Pacemaker Required?
The four chambers of the ticker must work together to keep the ticker
beating, normally from fifty to one hundred beats per minute in adults. A slow
or rapid heart rate means adequate blood is not being pumped to all the
internal organs, which can lead to fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of
consciousness, or confusion. It is the sinus node in the right atrium that
generates the initial electrical impulse that tells the right and left atria to
contract and squeeze blood into the ventricles. The sinus node is often called
the body's natural pacemaker. The electrical impulse then tells the ventricles
to contract, pumping oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. An abnormal
rhythm is what impedes the electrical impulse. A pacemaker consists of the
pulse generator that delivers the electrical impulses to the ticker.
Tips to care for your pacemaker:
In the earlier times, implantation required much more extensive surgery and
post-operative care. Today's pacemakers usually require an overnight stay, and
a few easy-to-follow rules:
1. Have your healthcare provider check the incision site after one week.
2. For a couple of weeks, you need to keep your arm closest to the pacemaker
below the shoulder level to prevent putting stress on the leads or the incision
site.
3. Keep the incision site dry for the initial few days and check for infection
like red skin or leaking fluid.
After implantation, it is necessary to follow-up with
the doctor again from 1-3 months and continue follow-ups with the doctor from
every six months to one year since the doctor at those follow-up appointments
will fine tune the pacing of the patient's pacemaker, and check the battery.
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