Your heart is a complicated muscle even when it’s in perfect health, and a pacemaker is even more enigmatic. Having a device put inside your chest to keep you alive may not seem like something you’d want to do, but in many cases, it’s required.
If you have an irregular heartbeat that puts you at risk of passing out, your doctor may recommend a pacemaker implant. Doing so can keep you out of dangerous and potentially deadly situations.
There are a few different types of pacemakers that your doctor can install. Knowing what each one does can help you decide how you want to proceed.
How do pacemaker types work? In this article, we’re going to explain.
Single-Chamber
You should consult your doctor and learn more info on pacemakers —how it works, and the different types of pacemakers to choose the right one for you. For starters, the most basic type of pacemaker is the single chamber.
A single-chamber pacemaker is a type of pacemaker that can be implanted into the heart and can reside in the right atrium or right ventricle. It has one lead or wire.
They use this pacemaker for those who have a slow heart rate. The single-chamber pacemaker helps to regulate the heart rate by sending electrical impulses to the heart muscle.
This is the least expensive type of pacemaker and the simplest to implant. However, it does not provide pacing for the atrium, which can lead to atrial fibrillation.
Dual-Chamber
A dual-chamber pacemaker is a device that helps the heart beat at a more regular rhythm. It is often used for people who have an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia).
It has two chambers, each with its own electrode. One is located in the upper part of the heart (atria), and the other chamber is in the lower part of the heart (ventricles).
The pacemaker uses sensors to detect the heart’s natural electrical signals. It then sends tiny electrical impulses to the heart muscle to make it contract. This helps the heart to beat in a more regular rhythm.
While it addresses the risk of atrial fibrillation, it is more expensive and slightly more complicated to implant than the single chamber.
Biventricular
A biventricular pacemaker is one of the types of pacemakers that help to improve the efficiency of the heart. It does this by sending electrical impulses to both the left and right ventricles of the heart, which helps them to work together more effectively. This can help to improve blood flow and can also help reduce the symptoms of heart failure.
They are the most expensive type and the most complicated to implant, but they provide the best pacing for both the right ventricle and the left ventricle.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs)
An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a type of battery-powered device that’s placed under the skin of your chest. It monitors your heart rate and rhythm. If the device senses a life-threatening arrhythmia, it delivers an electric shock to your heart to restore a normal rhythm.
ICDs are used to treat a variety of heart conditions that can cause sudden cardiac arrests, such as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation.
Pacemaker Types For Different Medical Needs
Different types of pacemakers are designed to meet different medical needs. Some pacemakers are designed to correct a slow heart rate, prevent dangerous heart rhythms, or help the heart pump more effectively.
The pacemaker types that are right for a person depend on their individual medical needs.
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