Pacemaker prevents heart failure?

I have a minor leaky mitral valve and think it may be causing my poor post-exercise recovery as well as shortness of breath when climbing hills (I like to hike). I have had a pacemaker for several years that I needed for sick sinus syndrome and absolute bradycardia and also have had a successful afib ablation. My question is it seems that a more serious mitral valve problem can cause heart failure, but doesn't a pacemaker protect against that? (Anyone know about if there is any relationship between a leaky mitral valve and VT arrythmias?) Thanks!

4 Comments

heart failure

by Tracey_E - 2013-12-16 08:12:11

When the valves fail, the leakage makes it hard for the heart to pump properly. Heart failure is a general term for when the heart fails to perform. Congestive heart failure is when the heart does not pump adequately. The pm simply sends the electrical signal to beat. It's up to the heart to respond by contracting, so no, it does not prevent heart failure. The pm will continue to send a signal, whether the heart beats efficiently or not.

Thanks!

by wantok - 2013-12-16 09:12:39

Thanks, Tracey. That was very helpful.

hiking

by Pacemum - 2013-12-17 04:12:53

The pacemaker will not help in the deterioration of the valve. However I think the pacemaker can keep the heart rate lower giving the heart more time to function.

My daughter has had mitral valve problem for much of her life and she has difficulty climbing hills on hikes. We do not go hiking/walking very often. However there are other exercises or sports which she seems to tolerate alot better than hill climbing.

Probably rate response problem?

by golden_snitch - 2013-12-17 09:12:45

There is no relationship between mitral valve leakage and ventricular arrhythmias, BUT between mitral valve leakage and atrial fibrillation. A lot of people have mild to moderate forms of mitral valve leakage, without any symptoms. Especially the mild form is often found in routine echos.

If you have a pacemaker because of sick sinus and severe bradycardia, I'd think that your symptoms are rather related to a non-optimal pacemaker rate response than to a mild valve leakage. Do you know if you rate response feature is switched on (if your pacemaker mode is one with an "R" at the end, e.g. DDDR, that is the case)? How well the rate response functions also depends on your rate response settings and the sensor(s) your pacemaker has for sensing physical activity. If I were you, I'd tell the cardio about the problems when exercising and ask him about the pacemaker's rate response.

Good luck!

Inga

You know you're wired when...

You have a new body part.

Member Quotes

I had a pacemaker since 2002 and ever since then my life has been a total blessing.