A heart pacer, or pacemaker, is an electronic device surgically inserted into a person's abdomen or chest. It helps regulate the heartbeat, especially after a serious cardiac event like a heart attack, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.

Surgical Risk

While any surgery carries risk of side effects, only 5 percent of people who undergo pacemaker surgery will experience problems during the procedure, according to the NHLBI.

Possible Surgical Effects

Common problems that can happen soon after heart pacer surgery include infection of the insertion site, bleeding, bruising and swelling, according to the NHLBI.

Serious Surgery Risks

A collapsed lung, damage to the nerves or blood vessels or serious infections are rare, but can result from pacemaker surgery, according to the NHLBI. Allergic reactions to anesthesia are also possible.

Electronic Side Effects

After getting a heart pacer, it's important to be mindful of prolonged use of electronic devices like MP3 players. These can disrupt the pacemaker's electronic programming and cause side effects like heart palpitations, according to the NHLBI.

Athletic Considerations

While participating in physical activity is important to heart health, the NHLBI notes that it's not a good idea to participate in contact sports like football if you have a pacemaker. Such physical contact can cause injury that can disrupt or dislodge the device.

Source:

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What is a Pacemaker?