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Life With a Pacemaker: What Changes and What Stays the Same?

The heart has a natural electrical starter in its upper right chamber. In some people, it fires too slowly, skips beats, and can cause fainting and constant tiredness. A pacemaker is implanted under the skin below the collarbone and sends a pulse when the heart misses a beat. Trustwell Hospitals’ cardiologists recommend a pacemaker after tests show a consistently low heart rate or pauses lasting several seconds. Many patients worry about their daily routine after the procedure. But life with a pacemaker is more like normal life than most people expect, with a few clear adjustments. Let’s dive in.

What a Pacemaker Does

The heart runs on its own electrical system. In some people, signals travel too slowly or get blocked. If the lower chambers of the heart do not receive the signal to contract, the patient may faint or feel too weak to walk a short distance. The pacemaker has a metal casing that holds a battery and a circuit, and insulated wires called leads run from the casing through a vein into the heart. The leads read the heart’s rhythm. If the heartbeat drops too low, the device sends a tiny electrical pulse that makes the heart contract. Most modern devices send pulses only as needed.

The First Few Weeks After Surgery

The procedure usually takes one to two hours and is done under local anaesthesia. Most patients go home within a day or two. You may feel soreness or mild swelling near the device, and the wound needs to stay clean and dry until it heals. Your doctor may ask you to avoid lifting the arm on the device side above shoulder level for about four to six weeks. This gives the leads time to settle into the heart tissue. You should also avoid heavy lifting and strenuous pushing or pulling.

What Changes

You will have to change a few habits after getting a pacemaker:

Regular device checks

Your pacemaker is checked every six to twelve months. Some devices send readings to the hospital through a home monitor, which reduces the number of visits.

Mobile phones

Keep your phone at least 15 cm away from the device. Use the opposite ear and avoid carrying it in a chest pocket.

Magnets and strong electrical equipment

Keep magnets, welding machines, and large motors at a distance. Your doctor can tell you the exact distance for your device.

Airport security

Carry your pacemaker ID card. Walk through the metal detector at a normal pace and ask the staff not to hold a handheld scanner over your chest.

Medical tests

Tell every doctor and dentist about your device. Many newer pacemakers allow MRI scans, but they require advance planning and device checks before and after. The battery lasts around eight to twelve years. Replacing it involves changing only the generator, a shorter and simpler procedure than the first implant.

What Stays the Same

Work

Desk jobs can usually be resumed within one to two weeks. Jobs that involve heavy lifting need clearance from your doctor.

Exercise

Walking, swimming, cycling, and light gym workouts are safe once your doctor approves them. Avoid contact sports that carry a risk of a blow to the chest.

Home appliances

Microwaves, televisions, and induction cooktops do not interfere with the device.

Travel

Road, rail, and air travel are all permitted.

Family life

Intimacy and normal family routines can continue as before.

Diet

No special diet is required, though a low-salt, low-saturated-fat diet supports general heart health and recovery.

Energy levels

Many patients feel less tired after the implant. The heart no longer slows suddenly, so blood flow stays steady, and fatigue and light-headedness often ease.

Benefits and Possible Risks

A pacemaker is a well-established treatment, and the benefits are clear for the right patient. The main benefits are the following.

Fewer fainting episodes and falls
Steadier energy through the day
Fewer emergency visits for slow heartbeat
A safer return to regular activity

The possible risks are the following.

Infection at the wound site
Bruising or bleeding around the device
Movement of a lead from its position
A small air leak around the lung, which is rare

Signs to Report

A fever of 38°C or higher can point to an infection in the wound or around the device.
Redness, pus, or swelling at the incision that keeps growing needs to be examined.
Repeated dizziness or fainting spells can mean the device isn’t pacing the heart correctly.
Check your pulse if it is very slow or very fast, even if you feel well.
Constant hiccups or twitching of the chest or abdominal muscles can mean a lead is stimulating the diaphragm or a nearby muscle.

Follow-Up Care at Trustwell Hospital

The cardiology team at Trustwell Hospital follows each patient after implantation. Your visits include a wound check, a device check, and setting adjustments as needed. You are welcome to bring questions about work, exercise, or travel to any appointment. To book a consultation, call Trustwell Hospital or visit the cardiology department.