Can I exercise after receiving my pacemaker implant?

Can I take MRI with a pacemaker?

Today, Dr. Gong Xue from cardiology department, DeltaHealth Hospital will tell you what you should pay attention to after the pacemaker implantation.

Q1 Do I have to stay in bed after having a pacemaker implanted?

Under normal circumstances, you can leave the bed 6 hours after the surgery.

The incision is covered with gauze, pressed with an elastic bandage, and then further pressed with a sandbag to stop bleeding. It is not mandatory to rest in bed, especially for the elderly. Staying in bed for too long may cause blood stasis of lower limbs and thrombosis.

Generally, you should lie flat until the sandbag is removed (6 hours), then you can sit, eat and go to the toilet. If the incision is dry and has no oozing blood, the elastic bandage can be removed on the second day after the surgery, after which you can go back to your usual activities. However, you should avoid lifting heavy objects, swinging or raising the upper limb on the side where the pacemaker is implanted.

Q2 When will I be discharged after the surgery?

Generally, patients can be discharged from the hospital 2-3 days after pacemaker implantation.

In most cases, pacemakers are placed in a pocket created under skin, susceptible to infection, and local infection can cause serious infective endocarditis! Therefore, pacemaker implantation has very high sterility requirements. In addition to careful disinfection during the procedure, preventive antibiotic treatment will be carried out during the perioperative period to reduce the chance of infection. Generally, patients can be discharged in 3 days. In addition, because the local tissue will be damaged when the pocket is made, there may be local pain at the pocket, and low fever may appear 1-2 days after the surgery. These are normal, and there is no need to worry too much.

Before you are discharged, your doctor will order a chest X-ray to confirm the location of pacemaker leads and whether there is pneumothorax.

Q3 Can I exercise after the surgery?

You can go back to your normal activities after you are discharged.

Increase the time and amount of your exercise slowly. Generally, aerobic exercise is safe, such as brisk walking, jogging, dancing, mountain climbing, cycling, Tai Chi, etc.

For patients with ordinary pacemaker, they can swim moderately after the incision heals. Pacemakers with defibrillation function (ICD/CRTD), however, do not allow swimming. Patients needing this kind of pacemakers usually have heart failure, and cardiac accidents can easily happen in them. In addition, ICD electrical discharge may occur in water, which is easy to cause drowning accidents.

Within 2-3 weeks after the surgery, you should avoid activities where you need to lift your limb of the surgical side up to the head, such as combing your hair, taking objects from a high place. You can do that after 2-3 weeks. But always keep in mind that you should avoid sudden and violent lifting, stretching, swinging of your limb, or jumping from a high place. What’s more, avoid hitting the chest, and sports where bump may happen.

Q4 Can I use electronics if I have a pacemaker?

You can normally use household appliances, such as hair dryer, electric shaver, electric blanket, electric iron, fan, refrigerator, washing machine, television, stereo, microwave oven, electric oven, computer, etc., , because modern pacemakers have anti-interference performance.

But for magnetic appliances, such as induction cooker, magnetic mug, radio recorder, etc., you should avoid using them. If you have to use them, keep a distance of more than 15 cm.

If dizziness and palpitation occur when you are using these appliances, you must shut down and stay away from them as soon as possible. Then the pacemaker can quickly restore its original working state.

Many people are concerned about whether the mobile phone and WIFI can be used.

The answer is yes. But don’t put your phone in a shirt pocket on the side where the pacemaker is implanted, and it’s recommended to put your phone in the opposite ear when you call.

Q5 Can I travel by train or plane after pacemaker implantation?

After the incision heals, you can travel by subway, train, ship and plane. Pacemaker manufacturers will provide identification card for your pacemaker. You should tell the airport security personnel to avoid sweeping the location of pacemaker pocket via the metal detector, to prevent interference.

Q6 Can't I take MRI with a pacemaker?

With traditional pacemakers, MRI may cause pacemaker or electrode displacement, myocardial perforation, abnormal pacing frequency, malignant arrhythmia, and even death. In such case, MRI cannot be performed. But now most manufacturers have produced “anti-MR” pacemakers, making it possible for patients to do MRI.

Does it mean I can take MRI whenever I want?

Currently, the compatible pacing system is safe only under certain conditions:

• Both the pacemaker and the lead electrode implanted in the heart are compatible with MRI;

• MRI can only be performed after the pacemaker is implanted for more than 6 weeks and the parameters are stable in the normal range;

• Most “anti- MR” pacemakers require the power of the magnetic resonance device to be 1.5T, and the latest pacemakers are compatible with 3.0T at most.

Before MRI, you need to go to the pacemaker follow-up OPD, where the doctor will program the pacing parameters and set the pacemaker to MRI mode. After the examination, the original setting will be restored.