Why would I need one?

• Your heart beats too slow or too fast.

• Your heart doesn’t beat regularly.

• There’s a block in your heart’s electrical pathways.

How does it work?

• A pacemaker uses batteries to send electric signals to

• The pacemaker is connected to your heart by one or more wires. Tiny electric charges that you can’t feel

• Pacemakers work only when needed. They go on when your heartbeat is too slow, too fast or irregular.

How do I live with my pacemaker?

• Check your pulse and keep a record of it the way your doctor tells you.

• Your doctor will check your pacemaker every three to six months. The battery in your pacemaker should last five to eight years or longer. When the battery runs

• Take your medicine the way your doctor tells you.

• Tell your doctor if you have trouble breathing, if you gain weight or get puffy legs or ankles, or if you faint, black out or get dizzy.

• Follow all doctor’s instructions and keepyour appointments.

• Carry an I.D. card with you so others know you have a pacemaker.

• Tell your other doctors and your dentist that you have a pacemaker. Certain types of medical equipment may affect how a pacemaker works.

• Tell airport security that you have a pacemaker