Health Tip: Will a Pacemaker Help Me?

A pacemaker is a small implanted device designed to help the heart beat properly and in a normal rhythm.

The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says the following conditions may signal the need for a pacemaker:

• Your heart does not beat normally due to age or heart disease.
• You have had a procedure called atrial fibrillation to treat an arrhythmia -- the medical term for an irregular heartbeat.
• You take medication that slows your heartbeat, such as a beta blocker.
• You show symptoms of a slow heartbeat, including fainting.
• You have muscle problems that may trigger slow travel of electrical signals through the heart.