What can and can't I do with a pacemaker?
A pacemaker is designed to support your heart and allow you to live a full and normal life, rather than to limit what you can do. Most people are back to their usual routine within a few weeks of having one fitted. There are a small number of sensible precautions worth understanding, most of which relate to strong magnetic and electrical fields, and to protecting the area while it heals in the first few weeks. For the vast majority of everyday activities, no special care is needed.
Driving
When you can drive again depends on your licence, and it is a short wait for most people. With an ordinary car or motorcycle licence you must stop driving for one week after the pacemaker is fitted, and you must tell the DVLA and your insurance company, as the NHS sets out. If you hold a lorry or bus licence, the wait is six weeks. Your insurer should not increase your premium as a result, as a pacemaker is fitted to make your heart more reliable, which makes you a safer driver rather than a higher risk.
Phones, computers and household appliances
Everyday electronics are nearly all fine to use. Mobile phones are safe, though it is wise to keep the phone around 15cm from the pacemaker, which means not tucking it into a shirt pocket over the device and holding it to the ear on the opposite side. Household appliances, including microwaves, are safe as long as they are in good working order, so there is no need to avoid the kitchen, though it is sensible not to linger directly in front of a running microwave.
Airports and shop security
Travel is not restricted, and you can fly as normal. Airport security scanners rarely cause problems, but you should tell the security staff that you have a pacemaker and carry your pacemaker identification card to show them, as the British Heart Foundation advises. The card also identifies your device in any medical situation. At shop security barriers, walk through at a normal pace rather than standing close to them for any length of time.
Scans and hospital treatments
A few medical treatments need care, so always tell any doctor or dentist that you have a pacemaker. In the past, MRI scans were unsafe for anyone with a pacemaker, owing to the strong magnetic fields they use, and older pacemakers still cannot be scanned safely. Many modern pacemakers, however, are designed to be MRI-compatible under specific conditions. The possibility of having an MRI depends on your particular device, so it must always be checked with your cardiologist or pacemaker clinic beforehand. Some treatments, such as TENS machines for pain and lithotripsy for kidney stones, may also need to be avoided or adapted.
Things to keep your distance from
Strong magnets and powerful electrical fields are the main things to be wary of. It is best to avoid arc welding and industrial equipment that generates strong fields, and to keep magnets, including magnetic bracelets, away from your chest. For most people none of this comes up in daily life, and the pacemaker is built to shrug off the everyday electrical fields around us.
The first few weeks
In the first few weeks, while the pacemaker leads settle into position, be careful with the arm and shoulder on the side where the device was fitted. Avoid raising that arm above shoulder height, and avoid lifting anything heavy, which means leaving tasks such as hanging out washing or reaching high shelves to someone else for a short while. It is still important to keep the arm gently moving during the day, as holding it completely still can cause the shoulder to stiffen. You will probably be aware of the device at first, and it may feel slightly uncomfortable in certain positions when you lie down, but this eases as you become used to it.
Beyond these first few weeks, normal life can resume. Exercise is positively encouraged once you have healed, and there is no restriction on travelling or returning to work. Sexual activity is also safe once you have recovered.
Battery life and check-ups
According to the NHS, pacemaker battery lasts around six to ten years. Your pacemaker clinic keeps a close eye on it and will not let it run flat, and replacing the battery means a straightforward procedure to change the unit rather than the leads. You will have regular check-ups, usually every three to twelve months, to make sure the device and its settings are working as they should.
Speak to Dr Eysenck
If you are considering a pacemaker, or you have questions about living with one, Dr Eysenck can explain what to expect at every stage. Get in touch to arrange a consultation with Dr Eysenck at one of his clinics across London and Kent.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my mobile phone and microwave normally?
Yes to both, with one small habit for the phone. Keep your mobile about 15cm from the pacemaker, so avoid a shirt pocket over the device and use the ear on the opposite side. Microwaves and other household appliances are safe when they are in good working order.
Will I set off airport security, and could it harm my pacemaker?
Modern airport security systems rarely interfere with pacemakers, and walking through them will not damage the device. Tell the security staff you have a pacemaker and show your identification card, as you may be hand searched rather than sent through the scanner, and it is best not to stand in the archway longer than needed.
How long does a pacemaker last before it needs replacing?
Most pacemaker batteries last between six and ten years. Your clinic monitors the battery at your check-ups and arranges a replacement in good time, well before it runs low, so there is no risk of it stopping unexpectedly.