Running and pacemaker

Just got my pacemaker 9/11/19. I hve 2nd degree heart block type 2. Besides controling my low HR will it help my running? I am 71 and a lifetime runner


5 Comments

By increasing your heart rate as you run

by crustyg - 2019-09-13 03:04:05

Assuming that your PM has been set to a rate adaptive mode, as you move around, your PM will increase your ventricular heart rate => heart output increases, more oxygenated blood for the big muscles driving you forward whilst you run => better performance.

Make sense?

More information is needed

by AgentX86 - 2019-09-13 08:35:32

It all depends upon why you needed a pacemaker, how it's set up, and of course you (obviously all of these are interrelated). With a heart block, the signal from the atria (upper chambers of he heart) to the ventricles (lower chambers) is interrupted. "Type two" means that the interruption isn't complete. There is a lot of information missing. That sort of interruption? What is your EP trying to accomplish? How is your PM set up?

Just as a guess (and only an uneducated guess), that your PM is set up to replace the A-V connection but only when it's faulty. That is, the PM watches for the sinus node to fire the atria then waits for the response in the ventricles. If it doesn't happen on time, the PM supplies the ventricular stimulation. Is the AV node does conduct properly,  the PM does nothing.

If this wild-ass guess is correct, your heart will function normally when the AV node is doing its thing and very close to normal when it's not. In short, it won't help you a bit when your heart is working as it should and when it's not, it'll bring you back to where you should be. It might take some work with your EP and PM tech to get there though. Run on (but understand that endurance sports do damage the heart).

Running Heart Rate

by doublehorn48 - 2019-09-14 12:53:11

I have Mobitz 2.  My heart would slow down as I would try to move faster.  With the pm I could run again.  It seems to me the pm will help you in the same way it helped me.  As far as endurance running harming your heart you probably feel the same as I do. Horsefeathers.  When I reach your age I will still be running as far as possible.  I won't be 71 until December.  

Heal up and then start running.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Denial is not only...

by AgentX86 - 2019-09-14 13:15:03

Any sustained high heart rate is damaging to the heart.  Afib is extremely common among endurance athletes.  The theory is that the increased;continuous load causes cardiomyopathy, stretching the heart muscle, causing fibrosis resulting in electrical problems.  The Afib group (stopafib.org) was just discussing some research that showed that 15-20K lifetime  hours of elevated heart rate caused damage. 

Running.

by PacedNRunning - 2019-09-16 02:56:55

you should be fine with running. May take a few adjustments and you should feel no different. Type 2 heart block is easy to fix. You probably won’t pace much with exercise at alll. 

 

I agree wirh DonR on endurance. Reading a book about that now. 

You know you're wired when...

Your ICD has a better memory than you.

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