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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is It Normal To Have Racing Heart While Being On Pacemaker?

My 83 year old father had a pacemaker implanted 4 weeks ago to correct a very low nighttime heart rate. He is in remarkable shape for a man of his age, working out daily, playing golf 4-5 times a week, and in excellent health other than the low nighttime heart rate determined by wearing a heart monitor for two weeks. For the past three weeks, he has been awakened by the sensation of a racing heart. Is this normal? The readings that are generated by the pacemaker transmitted via telephone show nothing out of the ordinary yet he is terribly troubled by the racing heart. What are his alternatives?
Tue, 30 Jun 2015
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Cardiologist,  's  Response
Hello. Thank you for your question and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern.

A single- or dual-chamber pacemaker works in a way that, when heart's natural electrical system does not work (does not "spark"), it comes into play. However, pacemaker does not work when the opposite happens, i.e. when heart rate goes up. Simply put, it works by not letting the heart stop. If this pacemaker implantation was indicated for a disease called the sick sinus syndrome, then the heart rate going up is not a surprise, being a characteristic of this syndrome in the first place. I assume these episodes might have happened in the past. At this moment, I would recommend that maximizing the dosage of drugs used to slow heart rate and/or adding an additional heart rate-controlling drug to the therapy. I would recommend adding amiodarone 200 mg x 1 tb/d, but I cannot say this with certainty as I do not know what medication is he on. Not letting aside that he should do an EKG and his pacemaker checked by the regular cardiologist or physician.

I hope I was helpful with my answer. Feel free to ask again. Good day.
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Is It Normal To Have Racing Heart While Being On Pacemaker?

Hello. Thank you for your question and welcome to HCM. I understand your concern. A single- or dual-chamber pacemaker works in a way that, when heart s natural electrical system does not work (does not spark ), it comes into play. However, pacemaker does not work when the opposite happens, i.e. when heart rate goes up. Simply put, it works by not letting the heart stop. If this pacemaker implantation was indicated for a disease called the sick sinus syndrome, then the heart rate going up is not a surprise, being a characteristic of this syndrome in the first place. I assume these episodes might have happened in the past. At this moment, I would recommend that maximizing the dosage of drugs used to slow heart rate and/or adding an additional heart rate-controlling drug to the therapy. I would recommend adding amiodarone 200 mg x 1 tb/d, but I cannot say this with certainty as I do not know what medication is he on. Not letting aside that he should do an EKG and his pacemaker checked by the regular cardiologist or physician. I hope I was helpful with my answer. Feel free to ask again. Good day.