A pacemaker is a small device that's placed in the chest or abdomen to help control abnormal heart rhythms. This device uses electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate. Pacemakers are used to treat arrhythmias. Arrhythmias are problems with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. During an arrhythmia, the heart may not be able to pump enough blood to the body. This can cause symptoms such as fatigue (tiredness), shortness of breath, or fainting. Severe arrhythmias can damage the body's vital organs and may even cause loss of consciousness or death.A pacemaker can relieve some arrhythmia symptoms, such as fatigue and fainting. A pacemaker also can help a person who has abnormal heart rhythms resume a more active lifestyle.
We researched this topic for you and found the following best online resources. They are categorized into basic, advanced, and research level based on the extent of information you need. You will be taken to the respective websites by pressing on the links below.
Basic information:
http://patient.info/doctor/pacemakers-and-pacing. patient, pacemakers and pacing
http://www.medicinenet.com/pacemaker/article.htm. medicinenet.com, pacemaker
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pacemakerimplantation/pages/introduction.aspx. nhs, pacemaker implantation
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/pace. nih, what is a pacemaker?
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/pacemaker-implant#1. webmd, heart disease and pacemakers
http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/pacemaker/home/ovc-20198445. mayo clinic, pacemaker
https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-treatments/p/pacemaker.html. stanford health care, pacemaker - artificial pacemaker
http://www.healthline.com/health/heart-pacemaker. health line, pacemaker
Advanced information:
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/162245-overview. medscape, pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators
http://www.uptodate.com/contents/pacemakers-beyond-the-basics. uptodate, pacemakers (beyond the basics)
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/heart/services/arrhythmia-treatment/permanent-pacemaker. cleveland clinic, permanent pacemaker
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/105/18/2136. circulation, cardiac pacemakers from the patient’s perspective
Research:
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1507192#t=articlediscussion. nejm, percutaneous implantation of an entirely intracardiac leadless pacemaker, doi: 10.1056/nejmoa1507192
http://www.nature.com/aps/journal/v37/n1/full/aps2015135a.html. mechanisms underlying the cardiac pacemaker: the role of sk4 calcium-activated potassium channels, actapharmacologicasinica (2016) 37: 82–97; doi: 10.1038/aps.2015.135
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/s2405818115300283. science direct, is pruritus over the pacemaker pocket may be a sign of a serious complication?http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcac.2015.06.008
http://journal.publications.chestnet.org/article.aspx?articleid=1082869. pocket hematoma after pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator surgery, chest. 2004;126(4):1177-1186. doi:10.1378/chest.126.4.1177
https://www.jci.org/articles/view/68257. the journal of clinical investigations, transcription factor isl1 is essential for pacemaker development and function
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=s0066-782x2000000100002. permanent and temporary pacemaker implantation after orthotopic heart transplantation, http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s0066-782x2000000100002
Related topics:
http://www.uchospitals.edu/specialties/heart/services/arrhythmias/pacemakers.html. the university of chicago medicine, pacemakers, defibrillators and insertable cardiac monitoring devices
http://missinglink.ucsf.edu/lm/pacemaker_module/index.htm. pacemaker module
http://www.medtronic.com.au/your-health/bradycardia/living-with/index.htm. daily living – pacemakers
Other articles:
http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm494417.htm. fda approves first leadless pacemaker to treat heart rhythm disorders
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/522306/worlds-smallest-pacemaker-can-be-implanted-without-surgery/. world’s smallest pacemaker can be implanted without surgery
Other helpful resources:
https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/treatments/pacemakers. british heart foundaion
http://www.pacemakerplus.com/. pacemaker plus
http://www.hrsonline.org/patient-resources/treatment/pacemaker. heart rhythm society
http://www.mypacemaker.com/. my pacemaker.com
https://www.pacemakerclub.com/. pacemaker club
Related videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5rvteayuiy. youtube, what is a pacemaker and how does it work?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsdl2jvfpxs. youtube, permanent cardiac pacemaker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjw5-pu0nbs. youtube, pacemaker implantation animation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbuxeom5lk4. youtube, how to place a temporary emergency transvenous pacemaker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5biqqyjw6no. youtube, insertion of transvenous pacemaker
http://watchlearnlive.heart.org/cvml_player.php?moduleselect=pacmkr. watch, learn and live, pacemaker
Presentation/quiz/newspaper articles:
https://prezi.com/ppcnzm74zixk/cardiac-pacemaker/. prezi, cardiac pacemaker
https://prezi.com/n4obcg6429ha/the-cardiac-pacemaker/. prezi, the cardiac pacemaker
http://www.slideshare.net/bhagyashris2/pacemakers-30430479. slideshare, pacemakers
http://www.slideshare.net/ruslizanosman/temporary-pacemakers. slideshare, pacemaker