Several conditions might lead you and your doctor to consider a pacemaker. One of the most common uses of a pacemaker is to correct an arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. While some arrhythmias are harmless, others can affect your heart’s ability to pump blood. Conduction system malfunctions, birth defects, medications and other causes can pose a serious risk to your health. The purpose of a pacemaker is to manage those conditions and ensure a regular, healthy heart rate throughout your life.

Your doctor might also recommend a pacemaker when your heart is weak or cannot pump enough blood on its own. Muscle damage after a heart attack, congenital defects, congestive heart failure and other conditions disrupt your heart’s ability to contract efficiently. These malfunctions can lead to symptoms like fatigue and lightheadedness or put you at risk of a medical emergency. A pacemaker offers extra support to a weakened heart to ensure it receives the electrical signals it needs to maintain a sufficient and regular heartbeat.