? about CHF

Hello All, It has been a very long time since i have been on this wonderful site. I have a kinda crazy question.... I have had 2 people tell me already that having a pacemaker and taking beta blockers causes CHF. What are your thoughts on this? Is it a bunch of bull or is there another thing to possibly worry about down the road? Just curious because i do take beta's and have a pacer, Not gonna let it worry me if it were true but just thought i would ask.....Thanks

4 Comments

betablockers, pacers, and CHF

by golden_snitch - 2009-10-08 01:10:45

Hi Lisa!

Regarding betablockers and CHF: I would rather say the opposite is true because all CHF patients I know are on a very high dosage of betablockers. They benefit from betablockers since they lower the heart rate and increase the heart muscle's contractibility (positive inotrope).

Pacing and CHF: Studies have shown that ventricular pacing can indead lead to CHF, and also makes it more likely to develop AF somehow. The reason is that by just stimulating the right ventricle, the beating of both ventricles can get asynchronuous, and this leads to a lower EF. If this happens, patients can get a so-called CRT (cardiac resynchronisation therapy) device that stimulates in both ventricles (and in ne atrium). Industry and cardios are also working on pacer algoritms that reduce unneccessary right ventricular pacing. It has been found out that for example patients with a sinus node disease but a working av-node are often paced in the ventricle which is not really neccessary, and puts them at risk of developing CHF some day.

Hope this helps a bit.
Best wishes
Inga

SNITCH IS RIGHT

by pete - 2009-10-08 02:10:18

Beta blockers can cause CHF but are not expected to do so if they are used in combination with a pacemaker. I have gone into CHF on a number of times but not after having a pacemaker, although I must say I dont take beta blockers. Its easy to find something to worry about if you have a pacemaker and I must admit that I sometimes do think of something to worry about. To worry is human. I worried a lot more 2 years before I got my pacemaker and I had even worked out the type I needed and that I should have an AV node ablation as well. Cheers Peter

Well I hope that's bunk!

by Gonnie - 2009-10-08 09:10:10

I have a bi-ventricular ICD/Pacemaker & my diagnosis was CHF. My ventricles were out of synch until the implant. I am taking 2 BB meds & feel great. Much improved EF & much more energy. I guess improved blood flow does that for a person! I've read that fish oil & certain thyroid meds (which I also take) can cause CHF. If you read enough, you can find an opinion to suit everyone's preference. I trust that my cardio doc wouldn't do anything to further jeopardize my heart by prescribing meds that would harm rather than help. Just my 2 cents...

Thank you

by lisa29 - 2009-10-08 12:10:16

Thank you all for your replies, Helps me out a lot more to understand.

You know you're wired when...

Your favorite poem is “Ode to a Cardiac Node”.

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