Limitations of a pacemaker:
- After receiving an implantable pacemaker system, you will have limitations with relation to magnetic and electromagnetic fields, electric or gas-powered appliances, and tools with which you are allowed to be in contact. You have to be conscious around microwaves, mobile phones, mp3 devices; MRI scans especially as they alter the functioning of the pacemaker resulting in its failure to function so you are in danger as nothing is controlling your heart beat. They interfere with your pacemaker’s functioning. So your life alters dramatically when you have an implantable pacemaker, you have limitations on what you can and can not do, what you can be around and your own household appliances!
- With the pacemaker costing $20 000- $25000, it virtually impossible for people in need of a pacemaker to get one. People can barely survive on their weekly payments or struggle affording a car to go and invest in a pacemaker. Money is an issue in this world, especially for people who are in desperate need for a pacemaker. People are forced to live with their arrhythmia, in torture everyday because they simply can not afford a pacemaker. Pacemakers are too expensive and this is what limits people from getting one implanted.
- Just when you thought a pacemaker is like a healthy heart, you are wrong. To maintain and monitor your heart rate and pacemaker you have to attend annual doctor checkups to ensure that your pace maker is working correctly or just for any adjustments. As your life is at risk if your pacemaker fails these checks are quite frequent and may interfere with your work, schooling, family or relaxation hours. So due to the implantation of a pacemaker you may have to sacrifice a few hours a week altering your usual schedule or routine.
- As a pacemaker is made out of plastic and metals the body naturally rejects this materials working to destroy or deteriorate them out of the body. To prevent this from occurring as you need the pacemaker anti-rejection pills are prescribed for the patient to take everyday.This alters your life significantly you have to live on pills for the rest of your life arsing many other problems such as : organ failure, higher doses, side effects etc. so pacemakers do not function exactly as a normal healthy heart does. Anti-rejection drugs must also be taken when if after your operation you experience inflammation, rashes or infections.
- You must get your pacemaker battery checked regularly to make sure that it is still functioning and not flat is so they have to change it. If the battery goes flat you will have no knowledge of it putting your life at risk, you may feel dizzy or faint if the battery goes flat because the pacemaker will just stop working. This means extra doctor checkups and operations will have to be organised interfering with your usual routine, affecting your social and emotional state (friends). More time will be lost and events you may want to go to may have to be cancelled or re-scheduled to different dates.
- Avoid contact sports such as football, this does not affect the pacemaker's functioning but may cause damage or even break the pacemaker because of the amount of force applied onto your chest when being tackled. As a result you may never be allowed to play sports you enjoy or pursue a career in that field.