Pacemakers and Cardiovascular Defibrillators

Your heart is a piece of fine artwork, intricately designed to supply oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the rest of your body. Just larger than the size of an average fist, this life-sustaining powerhouse beats 100,000 times a day. As your heart beats, it pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood per day through a specially-purposed system of blood vessels, called the circulatory system. These vessels carry blood to every part of your body. Life is in the blood, we’re told, and indeed, blood is essential. Not only does it carry nutrients and fresh oxygen to your body’s tissues, it also takes waste from the body away from the tissues.

So how does your heart know when to beat? The answer is that your heart has a built-in electrical system made up of cells, nodes, fibers, muscles, ventricles and the atria. The term “arrhythmia” refers to any change from the regular sequence of electrical impulses from your natural heartbeat. These changes may include electrical impulses that are too fast, too slow or erratic. When your heart doesn’t beat properly, it can’t pump life-giving blood effectively. As a result, the brain, lungs and every other organ may sustain damage or shut down because they can’t operate properly.

Cardiovascular Defibrillators
A cardiovascular defibrillator is an electrical device that is implanted in your chest or abdomen that treats life-threatening arrhythmias. These devices are surgically placed and deliver an electric counter shock to the heart when severe abnormal rhythm is detected. A defibrillator continuously monitors your heartbeat and delivers extra beats or electrical shocks to restore the proper heart rhythm. The defibrillator works to correct irregular heart rhythms that occur in the lower chambers of your heart, called the ventricles.

Pacemakers
A pacemaker is device that is placed just under the skin in your chest or abdomen that sends very small electrical impulses to the heart to prompt the heart to beat at a normal pace. The implantation procedure is generally very safe, and having a pacemaker fitted can greatly improve your quality of life. The pacemaker works to correct irregular heart rhythms that occur in the upper chambers of your heart, called the atria.

If you suffer from a cardiac arrhythmia, having a defibrillator or pacemaker implantation may save your life. Dr. Ibrahim Helmy provides both pacemaker and cardiovascular defibrillator implantation in Los Angeles, California. Once Dr. Helmy has consulted with you and your primary care doctor and has determined that a pacemaker or defibrillator is necessary, he and his elite team will perform the correct procedure. He then will conduct regular tests and checkups to ensure the newly implanted devices are working well and you are healthy. If you are experiencing heart complications, make Dr. Helmy your first call for heart care, and don’t miss another beat.

Author

Ibrahim Helmy, MD