Frequently Asked Questions

Your pacemaker is designed to work properly around most appliances and equipment, including microwaves, electric razors, and personal computers. Most things you handle or work near every day will not cause a problem. However, some strong electrical or magnetic fields may affect your pacemaker, such as the security arches in stores. The effects are usually temporary. Your pacemaker will return to normal as soon as you move away from the source of the field.

Several medical and dental procedures require special precautions to prevent device
interference. Learn more about sources of electromagnetic interference (EMI) below. If you have questions about a specific appliance, tool, medical procedure, or piece of equipment, talk with us or contact the manufacturer of your device. The contact details for the various device manufacturers are below.

Driving laws and symptoms caused by your heart rhythm are often the deciding factors in whether you will be allowed to drive. Your healthcare provider will advise you about what is best for your safety and the safety of others.

Eventually, yes. Your pacemaker runs on a battery. Like all batteries, the battery in your device will be used up over time. At each follow-up visit, your healthcare provider will check your battery. When the battery power reaches a certain point, your pacemaker needs to be replaced. How long your pacemaker’s battery lasts depends upon the settings we program and how much therapy you receive. Pacemakers today typically last 6 to 8 years.

Very few activities will be off limits to you because you have a pacemaker. We may ask you to avoid strenuous activity (especially upper body activity) just after surgery. Doing so helps ensure your lead(s) has time to attach firmly to your heart tissue. After that, you will probably be able to do most of the things you did before your implant. Talk with us if you have any concerns about physical activity.

The pacemaker sends small electrical impulses to the heart. These impulses make the heart contract. If the heart does not provide a heart beat at the right time, the pacemaker sends the impulse to make the heart beat at a normal rate. If the heart rate is irregular, the pacemaker can send these impulses to help even out the rhythm.

Most patients do not feel their pacemakers working. Some pacemakers respond to increased activity. If this is the case, you may feel an increase in your heart rate when activity level increases. We will program your pacemaker to work best for your condition.

.. such as carrying a bag of groceries in from the car?

A sensor in your pacemaker can indentify when you are sitting, walking, or working. It can add paced beats to your heart rate to provide a rate that is appropriate for that activity. This type of pacing is called adaptive-rate pacing. For example, your heart may need more beats when you are walking up stairs than walking on the sidewalk. The pacemaker sensor can add paced beats to your heart rate so that you can resume most everyday activities.

Very few activities will be off limits to you because you have a defibrillator. We may ask you to avoid strenuous activity (especially upper body activity) just after surgery. Doing so helps ensure your lead(s) has time to attach firmly to your heart tissue. After that, you will probably be able to do most of the things you did before your implant. Talk with us if you have any concerns about physical activity.

We programmed your defibrillator to treat your specific condition. The type of therapy you receive depends on your heart rhythm and your device’s programming:

Antitachycardia pacing (ATP): Most patients do not feel ATP.

Full-energy shocks: Most patients do feel shock therapy. The feeling varies from person to person and can even be different for the same patient at different times. Some patients have described the shock therapy as a small thump in the chest. Others have described a strong, uncomfortable feeling like being kicked in the chest.

You may feel upset when you receive the first shock from your defibrillator. Because the shock can be unexpected, it is only natural to feel anxious for a little while. Talk to us to find out how your defibrillator is programmed, what to expect, and what to do if you receive a shock.

Your defibrillator is designed to work properly around most appliances and equipment. Most things you handle or work near every day will not cause a problem. However, some strong electrical or magnetic fields may affect your defibrillator, such as the security arches in stores. The effects are usually temporary. If you hear your defibrillator beeping, immediately move away from the source of the interference and call your doctor.

Several medical and dental procedures require special precautions to prevent device interference. Learn more about sources of electromagnetic interference (EMI) below.

If you have questions about a specific appliance, tool, medical procedure, or piece of equipment, talk with us or contact the manufacturer of your device. The contact details for the various device manufacturers are below.

Driving laws and symptoms caused by your heart rhythm are often the deciding factors in whether you will be allowed to drive. We will advise you about what is best for your safety and the safety of others.

For most patients, sexual intimacy is not a medical risk. The natural heart rate increase that occurs during sex is the same as the heart rate increase that occurs when you exercise. Exercise testing at the hospital will help us program your defibrillator so you do not get a shock during sex. If you do get a shock, your partner may feel a tingling sensation. The sensation is not harmful to your partner. Be sure to let us know if you get a shock during sex. We may want to reprogram your device.

Eventually, yes. Your defibrillator runs on a battery. Like all batteries, the battery in your device will eventually wear out. At each follow-up visit, your healthcare provider will check your battery. When the battery power reaches a certain point, your defibrillator needs to be replaced. Today, ICD devices typically last 5 to 7 years.

We can program your defibrillator to beep when it is almost time to replace it. If you hear your defibrillator beeping, call us immediately.

EMI is the term used to describe the effect of an electromagnetic field on the operation of an implanted heart rhythm device. Electromagnetic fields are invisible lines of force due to a combination of electrical fields (produced by voltage) and magnetic fields (produced by current flow) that an object emits. EMI occurs when the signals from an electromagnetic field temporarily interfere with the intended operation of the implanted device.

Let’s take a look at a common electrical appliance as an example. Voltage is present on the lamp cord (conductor) as long as the lamp is plugged in to an active wall outlet; an electric field is present, even if the lamp is not turned on.

Magnetic fields are generated by current flowing through a conductor; the magnetic field encircles the conductor. A magnetic field is generated as soon as a device is switched on.

In some cases, an implanted device may sense the electromagnetic signals produced by some objects and misinterpret them as a rapid signal coming from your heart. A pacemaker (including the pacemaker contained within a defibrillator) may interpret the signals as your heart rhythm. It may respond by withholding its pacing. A defibrillator may interpret the signals as a heart rhythm that needs therapy. This could cause the device to deliver a shock that you don’t need. In rare cases, the device could withhold a necessary shock.

The effects of EMI are temporary. The closer your implanted device is to the item, the stronger the effect. The farther away, the less effect you will experience. EMI effects do not usually harm your device.

A magnet can also cause your implanted device to respond differently if your device gets within six inches of the magnet. Your defibrillator will respond to a magnet based on how your doctor has programmed your device to respond. A pacemaker will respond by temporarily pacing at a different pre-set rate. Ask your doctor for more information.

Note: If you have a defibrillator, some strong magnetic fields may cause your device to make beeping. Immediately move away from the object that may be causing the beeping.

Which items are safe to use? Which items shouldn’t I use?

If you have questions about a specific appliance, tool, medical procedure, or piece of equipment, talk with us or contact the manufacturer of your device.