Heart rate

Just wondering if anyone can give me some insight here. I've had my pacemaker since March 2016. My insurance company offers a discount if you are able to pass a fitness test each year. I have always passed until this year. The activity that I failed was the cardio test. It is a 3 minute step test, when finished your heart rate needs to be 120 or lower. Mine was 125. Can I lower my own heart rate with a pacemaker? 

3 Comments

No...

by donr - 2016-11-27 02:04:03


...The PM is only an accelerator, not a brake pedal.  It functions to keep your HR from falling below a set number of BPM - usually about 60.  If the HR does drop bewlow that pre-set number, thwe Pm takes over & corrects your HR beat by beat by monitoring the elapsed time between beats.  If the expected time for the next beat to occur exceeds what is set, the PM sends a pulse to trigger a beat.  If the HR is above the set minimum, the PM just monitors the situation, looking for a potentially late or missing beat.

Now, all that being said, there is a function in the PM called the "Rate Response."  It tries to simulate the action of the heart as it needs tpo speed up to meet Oxygen demand for the body under stress -= like exercise.  It may be that you have an overly ambitious RR adjustment - ask your Cardio about it.

 

if that is not the p[roblem, it ismerely a matter of physical conditioning & you have to work on that, ahich is inbdependent of the PM.

Donr

PM settings and modes

by BillH - 2016-11-27 14:21:16

While I agree with Don let me add a few more points.

You did not indicate the reason for the PM or the mode that it is working in.

In some modes there is a maximum tracking rate. And if used in your case that might be set to limit the HR to 120. BUT THAT CAN ALSO LIMIT TOO MUCH FOR OTHER ACTIVITIES.

Likewise the setting on rate response. If that is being used there are setting for how soon, how fast, and how high that it can increae the HR.

The rate response in PM's is only a very poor attempt at replacing the natural function of a normal heart. So restricting it too much might show up in your everyday activites.

So, while you might discuss this with your EP you really want to concentrate on how you feel do your normal activities and not this one thing.

RR

by gleesue - 2016-12-01 17:24:42

You need to find out if your rate response is even turned on. Mine is off.  When I exercise my heart speeds up on its own. The PM only works when my heart goes below 50. If it's turned off your heart is working like it used to. Are you in the same shape you were before or are you still getting back in shape.

Jerry

You know you're wired when...

You can finally prove that you have a heart.

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I just want to share about the quality of life after my pacemaker, and hopefully increase awareness that lifestyles do not have to be drastically modified just because we are pacemaker recipients.