Living With A Pacemaker (common questions answered) - in Plain English! 

Thanks so much! 🙏 I hope this one makes sense! (I don't always phrase things exactly how i wanted to 🤷‍♂️)

Pacemaker lead fracture is difficult to predict and there are no specific activities that are predictably associated with lead fracture. The anatomic relationship between the pacemaker leads, the clavicle (collar bone), the ligament between the clavicle and the 1st rib likely plays a role in lead fracture risk, but that has more to do with the lead implantation and patient anatomy than specific activities. And so, both for quality of life reasons, as well as no data to support activity restrictions, there are no prohibitions on any particular type of exercise with a pacemaker in place (including no restrictions on push-ups, pull-ups, overhead reach/stretch, slalom water skiing) - but I envy the person who is this physically active and I must vow to do better myself!! :)

Thank you so much for your kind comments! Out of curiosity, how did you come across the video? It had been sitting online for a little while without that many views at first, and for some reason it seems to have picked up interest, which of course I'm happy to see!

@@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917 I had a dual chamber pacemaker inserted almost two years ago, so now and then I search for pacemaker related videos. I must say you did answer some of the questions that I had asked at my pacemaker check last week i.e end of life with a pacemaker. As a former nurse I like to keep up as well.

Thanks for your kind feedback!

Thanks! I hope it makes sense! 🤞

In epicardial pacemaker in a post CABG patient, can we pace afib or same as the implantable ones that it has no effect? On a fibrillating heart?

@@gemmasantos1572 epicardial pacing wires essentially work the same as an implantable pacemaker. They cannot prevent atrial fibrillation. They can only prevent the heart rate from falling below a programmed cutoff.

@@dr.joshuacooper-arrhythmia9917thank you dr for the reply.

Pacemakers are small, compared to local muscles of either men or women. No specific gender differences in recovery or maintenance. 👍

There are several reasons that someone might not feel well after getting a pacemaker for heart block. Much of it has to do with the way the pacemaker is programmed, and lead placement in the heart can also impact how the pacemaker functions. You should see your EP doc and let them know you are not feeling well so that they can help figure out solutions.

Yes, electrical cardioversion can be done safely in patients with pacemakers (recommend not putting a defib adhesive pad right on top of the pacemaker, although that's not the proper location for the front pad anyway!)

Thanks for that reply, It’s very comforting. There are questions regarding electrophysiology of the heart which are not easy to find answers to despite all the literature out there .