Understanding Your Pacemaker or Defibrillator: What Patients and Families Need to Know

Everything you need to know about a pacemaker or defibrillator Implantable cardiac devices are life-saving tools that have been in use for decades. But when you or a loved one has been advised to get a pacemaker, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), or cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device, where do you turn for practical information about what life with your device will be like? The fact is that no single source provides patients and their families with the real-life information they need and want. Until now. Understanding Your Pacemaker or Defibrillator: What Patients and Families Need to Know fills this void with a wealth of useful information for patients who have or require an implantable device. Written from a uniquely comprehensive perspective by three very diverse experts—an experienced cardiologist who has worked with thousands of cardiac device patients and their families, a certified cardiac device specialist who also specializes in patient psychology, and a patient living with an implanted cardiac device—this book explains everything you need to know about living with a pacemaker, ICD, or CRT device: • Normal and abnormal heart function • Misperceptions about implantable devices • What to expect during and after the procedure • Follow-up care and possible complications • Practicalities of living with an implanted device Using accessible, understandable language, Understanding Your Pacemaker or Defibrillator will answer your questions (even the ones you didn't know to ask!), allay your fears, and help you live a long and healthy life with your device.