Rate Response

I have a question...I have a medtronic enrythm PM. When I "flop" down on the couch or when I stand up quickly, my heart races uncomfortably for 15-20 seconds. Is this the rate response kicking in.
Thanks!

2 Comments

Rate Resposne

by SMITTY - 2009-07-16 04:07:57

My guess is that is your rate response doing what it thinks is needed. There are settings for such things as sensitivity, which is how much activity it takes to start the RR, or how long that activity should continue before the RR kicks in, or to what rate it will take your heart beat, etc.

If what you are experiencing is a problem you need to talk to your doctor and see what adjustments he thinks can or should be make to the RR.

Smitty

Rate response

by ElectricFrank - 2009-07-17 12:07:25

It could be the rate response. However, rate response usually only responds to repetitive movement rather than a single action like you describe. It can also be a response to the sudden change in blood pressure from the postural change. Some people pass out from suddenly standing up.
If your pacer is implanted right under your skin where you can feel it there is an easy way to find out. Just sit down and relax until your HR settles down. Then using your thumb and index finger move the pacemaker back and forth fairly rapidly. If rate response is the issue this will increase your HR very noticeably. Before I had RR turned off I could drive my HR from 60 up to 140 in less than a minute.

frank

You know you're wired when...

You play MP3 files on your pacer.

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