Pacemaker's Carrier's Day

Pacemaker wearer's day was celebrated with a special program on the morning of Tuesday, September 23, at the Teaching-Assistance Outpatient Clinic of Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública (ADAB). The action was coordinated by cardiologist Lenises de Paula van der Steld, in an initiative of the Department of Artificial Heart Stimulation (DECA) of the Brazilian Society of Cardiovascular Surgery (SBCCV), with the support of Bahiana.

Visitors were able to measure their blood pressure and glycemic index, in addition to receiving guidance and informational material on the use of pacemakers. The program included the participation of patients with pacemakers who interacted with visitors and the press, clarifying doubts and reporting a little about their experience. 

According to Dr. Lenises de Paula van der Steld, “the main objective of celebrating the Pacemaker Wearer's Day is to publicize the benefits it offers to people with problems such as cardiac arrhythmias and the care that the electrode wearer should have for a good quality of life”.

According to her, the electrical system of the heart may eventually present blockages that impede the passage of the electrical impulse, causing it to beat more slowly. The result of this is an arrhythmia known as bradycardia or a slow heartbeat, which can also be accompanied by fainting, dizziness or fatigue. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, an artificial pacemaker may need to be implanted.

The pacemaker is a light and small device that serves for electrical stimulation through a pulse generator and electrodes. The electric generator consists of a miniaturized electronic circuit and a compact battery. It monitors cardiac activity and, when there is no natural pulse, it releases an electrical impulse that causes the heart muscle to contract. The device is connected to the heart through electrodes, through which electrical signals are transported from the heart to the device and from the device to the heart.

Myths and truths

According to the cardiologist, virtually all household appliances do not interfere with the pacemaker, with the exception of the microwave oven. In this case, the wearer of the device must move away at least three meters while it is in use. 

Regarding the cell phone, the user must avoid using it on the same side where the pacemaker is implanted. And, as for metal detector doors, the holder can quickly go through or present their card, which identifies them as the user of the device, to the person responsible for security so that they have access through normal doors - in the case of banks, airports and stores .

Cameraman Ademário Silva, 44, says that until two years ago he was an athlete. “I ran seven kilometers a day, practiced physical activity, until one day I woke up dizzy. So, two years ago, I had Dr. Lenises' guidance to put the pacemaker in, because my quality of life was terrible. I felt a lot of dizziness, malaise, indisposition to work. Today my life has changed one hundred percent. I do everything, I take care of it, like the revolving door, but other than that, I do everything normal”.

For judge Neusa Nascimento, 65, dizziness was also recurrent and was also accompanied by fainting. The suspicion of labyrinthitis soon developed into bradycardia, when she was referred to the office of Dr. Lenises de Paula van der Steld. She says that people who live with her are still very concerned, but because they are unaware of the subject, because the patient with a pacemaker can live a life fully within the normal range. "I do everything. Just don't abuse. I use the cell phone on the opposite side of the pacemaker, I don't use the microwave, to protect me and my device. I lead a normal, healthy and joyful life. The joy has not disappeared”.

Dalva de Jesus Aguiar, 11, has been carrying a pacemaker for 78 years, and says that before implanting the device, she felt a lot of indisposition and tachycardia when she was referred to the cardiologist's office. She remained accompanied for two years and, at the end of that period, news came that she would need to implant the pacemaker. “I was still a little haggard for a while, but after we do the implant, we come to the conclusion that it's trivial and the quality of life improves a thousand percent. I do everything, go to everything, work on my chores at home. I'm going after Bel Marques, I'm in love with him, with Ivete Sangalo. I do not feel anything! It's an eternal revelry!”, he celebrates.