Medical Devices & Technology Archive

Ask the doctor

Q. I'm getting a pacemaker to treat a slow heart rate and am wondering how it might affect my daily life. For instance, can I still exercise? Is it safe to go through airport security scanners and to have medical imaging tests?

A. Pacemakers are small, implanted electronic devices that monitor your heart's rhythm and, when necessary, generate a painless electrical impulse that triggers a heartbeat. The latest models not only help people stay active later in life, they're also more compatible with today's technology.

These wrist-worn devices are better than ever at gathering data. But it's still too early to use them to screen for atrial fibrillation.

The original wristband monitors were pretty basic: they tracked your movement and tallied your daily steps. But before long, these digital devices could also estimate your heart rate, thanks to a sensor that measures changes in blood flow through your skin. Now, there are smartwatches with special sensors that can record a tracing of your heart's electrical signature (electrocardiogram or ECG) and alert you if it detects an irregular rhythm.

Last fall, the FDA granted Apple approval for the ECG sensor and an app that includes an algorithm to detect atrial fibrillation, or afib, the most common heart rhythm disorder (see "What is atrial fibrillation?"). While the Apple Watch Series 4 is the first of its kind to offer this feature, other companies have similar technologies in the works.

Ask the doctor

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Q. After I experienced a few fainting episodes, I was diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome. My doctor says I might need a pacemaker. Can you tell me more about this condition?

A. Despite the name, sick sinus syndrome has nothing to do with your nasal passages. Instead, it refers to various heartbeat irregularities that can cause dizziness, fainting, or shortness of breath. Most cases are due to age-related changes in the heart muscle that disrupt the heart's electrical system. Sometimes, another form of heart disease or medication that slows the heart is to blame. Sick sinus syndrome is most common in people in their 70s and 80s.

Operations to fix faulty mitral valves are on the rise. But less invasive nonsurgical strategies are under development.

The mitral valve — so named because it resembles a miter, a bishop's formal headdress — sits between the two chambers on the left side of your heart. Inherited conditions, diseases, or a combination of the two can cause changes in the size, shape, flexibility, or mechanics of the mitral valve, leaving it unable to close properly. When that happens, blood may flow backward between heartbeats, a problem called regurgitation.

While mild cases are generally harmless and cause no symptoms, more severe cases can increase the heart's workload, leading to breathlessness, fatigue, and other symptoms. Mitral valve regurgitation also produces a distinct sound (heart murmur) that a doctor may hear through a stethoscope.

Research we're watching

An experimental nasal spray shows promise for quickly treating an abnormally fast heart rhythm known as supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), a new study reports.

Caused by an electrical misfire that overrides the heart's natural pacemaker, SVT occurs unpredictably, lasting anywhere from minutes to hours. Although usually harmless, the condition can make people dizzy or lightheaded. People with persistent SVT usually need to go to an emergency room for an injection of a drug to slow the heart.

Here is why you should invest in this fitness technology.

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There is a lot of technology that tracks your health, from counting steps to counting burned calories. One of the most valuable fitness tools though is a heart rate monitor, which tells you how many beats your heart takes per minute.

"Whether you're just getting started with an exercise routine or are a committed fitness enthusiast, tracking your heart rate can help you maintain the necessary moderate level of intensity for optimal benefits without worrying about doing too much or too little," says Dr. Aaron L. Baggish, associate director of the Cardiovascular Performance Program at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

Machine learning may improve the way doctors detect heart disease.

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Imagine a world in which a photo of your eye — taken with your smartphone — could determine your risk of a heart attack, and your smartwatch could estimate your odds of experiencing a stroke. Sounds pretty futuristic, right?

In fact, preliminary studies showing the feasibility of both approaches have already been published. They're just two examples of the new wave of technology-based innovations (see "Transformative technologies") that are beginning to change health care as we know it.

These devices help you keep tabs on a key indicator of your cardiovascular health.

Of all the things you measure to assess your health, blood pressure certainly ranks among the most important. High blood pressure not only puts you at risk for a heart attack or a stroke, but also can damage your brain, eyes, and kidneys.

For some people with this common condition, checking blood pressure intermittently at the doctor's office may not be enough. Investing in a simple, inexpensive home blood pressure monitor often makes sense. It's especially helpful when you're starting a new medication or are taking several different ones and still working to reach your blood pressure goal.

Bulky recorders with lots of wires are being replaced by small patches and implanted devices.

An abnormal heart rhythm — when your heartbeat is too fast, too slow, or irregular — can be tricky to detect and diagnose. These electrical misfires are often short-lived and sporadic, so they're rarely seen on a routine electrocardiogram (ECG), a 10-second recording of the heart's electrical activity.

Many heart rhythm changes are harmless, but some cause fainting or other worrisome problems — including stroke. That's why doctors often rely on portable ECG devices that record your heart rhythm for several days — or even up to a month. But they're a bit of a nuisance because of the many wires, and you must remove and replace the electrodes when you shower or bathe.

Today's versions can correct many types of heart conditions that can keep you active and help you live longer.

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Think of a pacemaker, and perhaps the image of a frail person stuck on the couch comes to mind. If so, you need to update your mindset. For many men, these tiny electronic devices can change their lives for the better.

"The likelihood of needing a pacemaker increases with age," says Dr. Peter Zimetbaum, a cardiologist with Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "The good news is that today's pacemakers have evolved from fixing irregular heartbeats to helping the heart mimic normal function, all of which can help many men with certain heart conditions stay more active longer."