Pacemaker cells in the heart

Common Questions and Answers about Pacemaker cells in the heart

pacemaker

Avatar n tn hypokinesis can also be the result of stunned cells. Stunned heart cells affected by a heart attack can be revitalized if blood/oxygen is quickly provided within a few hours to the area affected by an acute heart attack. Akinesis is different from hypokinesis in that the heart cells affected are necrotic (dead). Stem cell therapy may be helpful for that condition. Five years ago I had hypokinesis of the left ventricle wall and a low EF.
Avatar n tn Usually, the heart muscle cells keep time more slowly than normal pacemaker cells. This allows the pacemaker cells within the SA node to be in control of generating and pacing the heartbeat. But, if a particular group of cells in areas remote from the SA node become extra- or hyper-excitable they can take over as the pacemaker for one or several beats, or for a longer term. You might think of the heart's cells as a schoolyard full of young boys playing soccer.
Avatar n tn When the electrical system in your heart goes a bit haywire (like a blown fuse or a power surge) then the cells in the heart can react by causing a premature heart beat. Premature beats of the ventricles or atria are not (in themselves) dangerous and rarely cause any further complications. However, since your heart has been given an artificial pacemaker for whatever reason, it stands that your electrical system is likely not functioning properly.
Avatar n tn Alcohol may trigger an irregular beat by changing the chemical structure of the cells in the heart. Thus it is the chemicals that really cause the extra beats. All these drugs change the way cells emit and take in chemicals (potassium, etc). In this way it is intented that all the cells become synchronized--thus no irregular beats. Thus the real cause is that cells develop the propensity for irregularity, and no one knows why this happens.
696415 tn?1228229959 The sinoatrial node (SA node) is a group of cells positioned on the wall of the right atrium, near the entrance of the superior vena cava. Cells in the SA node will naturally discharge at about 70-80 times per minute. Because the sinoatrial node is responsible for the rest of the heart's electrical activity, it is sometimes called the primary pacemaker, the natural pacemaker.
Avatar m tn It's interesting that everyone has irregular beats--but most people simply don't feel them. We sensitive types do. Perhaps you've read what actually happens during an ectopic beat? If not, here's a simplified rundown: The 'Pacemaker' in the upper right atrium normally sets the heart rate, but it's important to know that every cardiac cell in the heart is naturally rhythmic and contractile.
Avatar n tn The sinus atrial node is a clump of cells in your heart that put out an electrical current that causes the rest of your cells in the atrial center of your heart to contract. The electrical current continues into the ventricular node and causes the bottom of the heart to contract immediately after that.
Avatar n tn I don't think there is anyway to call your description normal or not normal. Your subject states "congestive heart failure" which is a general description of a heart that is failing due to valve or other problems and is loosing it ability to pump blood. I suppose one could call that normal if one has heart valve problems that can not be repaired or if it is simply the body is growing old and the heart is beginning to fail. How long?
5681515 tn?1372270707 They are basically destroying cells which are messing up the signal for heart rhythm and so there is a risk they could stop the heart or send it into VF. Even after bypass surgery they attach a wire to the heart, which protrudes from the chest, in case they need to attach a pacemaker. It's better to be ready for any situation rather than waiting to get the equipment connected to you.
Avatar n tn Strictly speaking, palpitations are a particular awareness of your heartbeat, be it regular or irregular, regardless of the anatomical origin of the beat. It's interesting that everyone has irregular beats--but most people simply don't feel them. We sensitive types do. You mention an uneven pulse. The very nature of PVCs is unevenness: The letters stand for 'premature ventricular contraction.
Avatar m tn Yes, the condition can infect the heart's natural pacemaker. The heart's "natural" pacemaker is called the sinoatrial (SA) node or sinus node. It's a small mass of specialized cells in the top of the heart's right atrium (upper chamber). It makes the electrical impulses that cause your heart to beat.
Avatar f tn since Jo first mentioned this, I'd thought it was a fascinating thing, and ended up watching a few video presentations. Apparently, they just get the stem cells and inject them into a coronary artery. I'd suppose that they hope/expect some cells stick there in the heart and then do their magic. The cells can be gotten from such places as the marrow (naturally, because of the hematopoeitic stem cells used in blood cancer therapy), but also from fat or muscle areas.
Avatar f tn Sounds like you don't need a pacemaker. I think I'd want it out if I didn't need/use it. I do not have a pacemaker and don't have any idea how difficult removal is, hope (would guess) it is a out-patient (same day in/out) procedure. You say the pacemaker never "kicked" in, I assume you don't have any related heart problems like dizziness or shortness of breath. If you do, perhaps you should consider having the pacemaker set to cut in sooner.
Avatar n tn Right bbb means that the usual route the signal takes to activate the muscle in the large right chamber is blocked. The signal cannot get thru the usual route. There can be different reasons, but it generally finds a different way around, through normal heart cells. However, this can cause a delay, meaning the right chamber is contracting slower or is delayed compared to the left. This is probably what they are referring to with regards to borderline.
1744581 tn?1311302411 t think this is a normal for a pacemaker replacement surgery 5 weeks out. Is it possible that even if my pacemaker lead is causing the hypokinesis in the apical wall that it is doing damage to my heart? Or could that be why I'm suddenly so tired? All of my blood work, including thyroid, is normal. I'm very frustrated with the fatigue I'm experiencing. Any info would be appreciated!
1400314 tn?1280731525 d like to know what got the ventricles going again. My understanding is that the pacemaker cells in the Ventricles can take over in the event it doesn't receive a signal to beat. this is called an "escape beat". On you holter they should be able to tell if the ventricles fired an escape beat or if the next beat was something called "normal sinus rhythm" or NSR. usually the ventricles will fire an escape beat within 3-4 seconds of not getting NSR.
Avatar f tn So, in theory, yes an object buried in the av node, could sufficiently damage the cells and destroy the function of the av node.
Avatar f tn Typically all electrical impulses originate in the sinus node and travel in a well defined pathway to the remainder of the heart, leading to muscle contraction and thus a heart beat. PVCs and PACs occur when heart cells other than the typical pacemaker cells generate an electrical impulse and then a muscle contraction and heart beat. These may occur rarely or in some cases very frequently. Similarly, some people aren't aware of these while other people feel very symptomatic with them.
9314345 tn?1409636047 Your heart has a pacemaker in the top, and when that pacemaker discharges, other cells, starting in the top of your heart and working to the bottom, contract and forces the blood out of the heart. These cells that can respond to the slight electric current from the heart's pacemaker can, for some reason, cause slight discharges on their own. When that happens, the heart contracts or tries to before it should of.
Avatar n tn 80% of those 23 million were tagged for my heart. I will be glad to put you in touch with the Heart Clinic, in Florida, that I used. The procedure is not covered by insurance - again because of lack of FDA approval. Testing is being done in the U.S. in Chicago and Texas - might be elsewhere that's the 2 I know. The problem with getting in on a "study" is that it is a blind study.
Avatar f tn Is your mother on any heart medications? Does the heart "racing" happen often? Line of thought here is that a beta blocker may be a help in dealing with the high heart rate, then that is something your doctor has to decide. Many of us take a generic named Metoprolol to slow our heart rate...in my case my HR is always high and I do not have an ICD/Pacemaker.
Avatar f tn When I was at the doctors office they explained that it is working everytime her heart beats. They told us that the lower right side of her heart is bad. They said the pacemaker is set at 60bpm to keep her heart at a steady beat but when her blood pressure is taken the lower number is always in the 80's. I tryed to ask could the pacemaker be set to high for her body.
Avatar n tn My 90-year-old mother has advanced heart disease and went into the hospital with angina. Her heart rate was in the 30s and dipped into the 20s and the the teens. She told the nurse in the ICCU that she did not want a pacemaker and just wanted to have relief from the pain. The hospital has her advanced directives on file and she is designated as DNR. She made me promise that I would not let them put in a pacemaker.
Avatar n tn Normally, the electrical activity spreads from one heart cell to the next in an orderly and coordinated way to allow the heart to pump blood. During each normal heartbeat, the muscle cells in the upper chambers of the heart, the atria (AY-tree-uh), contract. The contraction pumps blood from the atria to the ventricles. Then the muscle cells in the ventricles contract, pumping blood from the ventricles to the lungs and the rest of the body.
Avatar n tn Many cardiac muscle cells can contract spontaneously, but the cells in the Pacemaker region are, during fetal development, the fastest-beating ones, and the fastest ones normally dominate the whole show. However, many of us have independent-minded cardiac cells that can trigger a contraction (a PVC) if they get the opportunity, and opportunity arises when the Pacemaker's rate slows down--as happens when you're cooling off after exercise, or when you're getting sleepy at bedtime.
Avatar n tn My question to you is this - do you know the name of the procedure that would fully sever the nerves which incite the heart to beat? I'm trying to research this procedure, and specifically, gain a clear understanding of the associated risks (along with mortality data), both immediate and long-term. I thank you in advance for any guidance you can provide.
Avatar n tn Do hope your daughter is lots better now. I appreciate the information you gave, and will follow it up with a pacemaker clinic to get more detail. What you said makes sense. To ed34: pulse rate increases naturally in response to a high fever to supply more O2 and nutrients to vital body parts, e.g., the heart, brain, lungs, kidneys. That's how our bodies function. Failure to do so puts more strain on these organs, and shock can potentially set in. At 41 deg. C.