A pacemaker for the heart

In clinics, doctors are increasingly faced with patients for whom life with the pacemaker has turned into a common household problem. They do not complain of health, continue to work in their field, to cope with moderate exercise.

It is wonderful when people previously bedridden due to arrhythmia, the pacemaker gets for getting rid of pathology.

The purpose of the device

In healthy people the heart muscle is influenced by the transmission of nerve impulses. The path passes from the sinus node in the right atrium to the septal and further diverging into fibers. Thus the proper rhythm.

Coordinated the activities of the master node of the sympathetic and vagus nerves allows you to fit the number of cuts to a specific situation: during physical work, stress the organs and the brain need more oxygen, so the heart must contract more frequently, in sleep enough more rare rhythm.

Arrhythmias for different reasons. Electric impulses change the direction, there are additional foci, each of which "claims" on the role of pacemaker.

Drugs do not always lead to a successful result. There are times when a combined pathology of the person excludes the use of medicines. In such a situation comes to the aid of the installation of a pacemaker. It is capable of:

• to make the heart contract in the proper rhythm;
• to suppress other foci of excitation;
• to monitor your own heart rhythm and intervene only in case of violations.

How is the camera?

Modern types of pacemakers can be compared with a small computer. The device weighs only 50 g. the Coating is made of titanium compounds. Embedded inside a complex chip and a battery that provides Autonomous power to the unit. Work time one battery will last 10 years. This means that you have to carry out the replacement of a pacemaker for a new one. Last modification of the devices work from 12 to 15 years.

From the device are durable electrodes for direct contact with the myocardium. They convey the discharge to the muscle tissue. The electrode is equipped with a special head for sensitive sufficient interaction with the cardiac muscle.

To understand how a pacemaker works, imagine a conventional battery, which is often used in everyday life. We always set it depending on the poles of the battery. In the device discharge occurs only when the self-contraction of the heart become rare with bradycardia or chaotic when disturbed the rhythm.

The power of shock to a heart imposed our rhythm, sothe machine is also called artificial pacemaker. In older models, a significant drawback was the installation of a constant number of reductions, for example, 72 per minute. Of course, this is enough for a calm life, a slow walk. But not enough in cases of acceleration of movements, if you have to go on a run in the unrest.

The modern pacemaker of the heart "does not offend", adapts to his needs and physiological fluctuations in the frequency of contractions. The conductors convey the impulses to the myocardium, but also gather information about the prescribed heart rate. The doctor can check the device at specific situations.

Variety of devices

The need for an artificial pacemaker is temporary and permanent. Temporary installation of a pacemaker required to stay in hospital for treatment of short-term problems:

• bradycardia after heart surgery;
• elimination of a drug overdose;
• relieve an attack of paroxysm flicker or ventricular fibrillation.

Pacemakers for the treatment of long-term problems with the arrhythmias produced by different firms are different. Practically they can be divided into three types.

How is the postoperative period?