Uncle Zhang is 75 years old. He buys groceries, cooks and exercises every day. However, in the past six months, he often feels weak. He feels chest tightness and out of breath when going up stairs or walking fast. Sometimes he feels dizzy and his eyesight goes black.

Uncle Zhang is 75 years old this year. He buys groceries, cooks and exercises every day. However, in the past six months, he often feels weak. When he goes up stairs or walks quickly, he feels chest tightness and out of breath. Sometimes he also feels dizzy and has blurred vision. black. He thought this was a normal sign of old age and didn't take it to heart. It wasn't until the past month that his dizziness suddenly worsened and he needed help to walk. He almost fell down many times. Only then did he go to the hospital for a checkup and found that the problem was with his heart - his heart was beating too slowly.

While he was hospitalized at Taiyuan Maternal and Child Health Hospital , Xu Yan, director of the Department of Adult Internal Medicine, gave Uncle Zhang a comprehensive examination and found that his heart only beat an average of 42 times per minute (normal people beat more than 60 times). At Director Xu's suggestion, Uncle Zhang underwent pacemaker implantation surgery. After the operation, he felt that his legs and feet were stronger, his head was no longer dizzy, his appetite had improved, and he had a smile on his face again.

What happened to Uncle Zhang’s heart?

Under normal circumstances, our heart beats about 100,000 times a day, averaging more than 60 times per minute, to meet the normal needs of the body.

Just as the parts of a machine fall into disrepair over time, the "circuitry system" of the heart also ages with age, causing the heart to beat too slowly or to stop beating for a long time. At the same time, cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and coronary heart disease can also cause "circuit system" failures. If the heart's "circuit system fails", it can lead to a decrease in the heart's pumping ability, resulting in insufficient blood supply to the whole body, which can cause various symptoms, such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, vertigo, fatigue, memory loss, , etc. If the heart stops beating for more than In just 5 seconds, it may cause fainting. If things go on like this, it will also lead to an enlarged heart and a decrease in cardiac function, which is extremely harmful.

Uncle Zhang’s heart beat too slowly, causing ischemia of the heart, brain, lungs, kidneys and other organs, resulting in symptoms such as general weakness, dizziness, memory loss, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. After he learned about his condition, he was afraid for a while: "It seems that if you feel uncomfortable, you should go to the hospital in time. You can't carry it, otherwise it will cause trouble, but you don't regret taking the medicine! Fortunately, the pacemaker was installed in time, otherwise it would be too much." Danger! ”

What is pacemaker ?

For some patients, a pacemaker is not only an auxiliary treatment device, but also a life-saving device.

The pacemaker is an electronic therapeutic instrument implanted in the body, consisting of a pulse generator and an electrode. The electrode is minimally invasively implanted into the heart through blood vessel puncture, and the pulse generator is connected to the electrode and buried under the skin on the chest.

What kind of patients need pacemaker implantation?

☄️Slow heartbeat

Currently, among patients with pacemakers, slow heartbeat accounts for 80-90%. What does it mean to have a heartbeat that is too slow?

One condition is that the heartbeat continues to be slow, for example, the average beat is less than 50 times per minute, and in severe cases, it can be as low as 30 times per minute, accompanied by fatigue, chest tightness, dizziness, memory loss, etc. In the long run, the heart will expand and the cardiac function will be damaged. . Therefore, we cannot take chances just because there are no serious symptoms. If we delay treatment until the heart function is very poor, it will be too late.

Another situation is that the heartbeat is normal, but the heart stops intermittently. Stopping the heartbeat for more than 5 seconds can lead to fainting. If you faint while walking or standing, it may lead to falls, fractures, cerebral hemorrhage, etc. This condition is difficult to diagnose because the heartbeat is normal when the disease is not occurring, and it is difficult to detect the problem through examination. For such patients, ECG monitoring devices can be implanted under the skin to confirm the diagnosis.

☄️Those with enlarged heart and poor cardiac function

Among patients with enlarged heart and poor cardiac function, 1/3 have asynchronous cardiac contraction. Such patients need to install a three-chamber pacemaker (CRT) to help restore the coordinated contraction of the heart, so as to improve cardiac function and extend life.

Are the risks of pacemaker implantation surgery high?

Because the trauma of pacemaker implantation surgery is very small, there is no need for general anesthesia and semi-anesthesia, and the surgical risks are relatively small.The electrodes of the pacemaker are implanted into the heart through venipuncture, and the pulse generator is buried under the skin. The subcutaneous wound is about 4-5cm, and the stitches can be removed 7 days after the operation.

What should you pay attention to after pacemaker implantation?

Within 7 days after pacemaker implantation, especially the first 3 days, postoperative management to prevent electrode dislocation is extremely critical. The main precautions after the sutures are removed are to avoid large-scale movements and contact with magnetic objects. Within three months, be sure to avoid large-scale movements of the arm on the side of the implant. The arm should not bear weight or be raised above the shoulder; patients with pacemakers implanted should not It is recommended to engage in physical activities involving strenuous upper body movements such as weight lifting and playing tennis.

Pacemaker implantation surgery is now very common. The surgery is mature and less invasive. When your situation is suitable for pacemaker implantation, please do not worry too much. After implanting a pacemaker, it is not a one-and-done thing. You still need to take medicines in a timely manner and have regular check-ups according to the situation. If you have relevant questions, please feel free to consult the Adult Internal Medicine Department of our hospital.

Source: Taiyuan Maternal and Child Health Hospital Publicity Center