What kinds of activity and follow-up are recommended for people with pacemakers?
If you have a pacemaker for second- or third-degree heart block, your cardiologist may recommend some restrictions about the types of exercise you can participate in (such as contact sports), but in general, a pacemaker will not seriously restrict your ability to take part in sports and leisure activities.
Your cardiologist will want to periodically check your pacemaker to make sure that it continues to meet your needs. Many Cleveland Clinic patients who have pacemakers use a special monitoring system that allows them to use a phone to send information from their pacemaker to their doctor’s office. It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions for pacemaker monitoring so he or she can ensure your pacemaker is correctly regulating your heartbeat.
If you have a pacemaker, you should avoid close contact with magnetic devices and any device that sends out an electrical field. When traveling, tell airport security screeners that you have a pacemaker, and carry a card that states the type of pacemaker you have. It is important to tell all of your doctors, your dentist and other healthcare providers that you have a pacemaker. Some medical procedures, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), can interfere with pacemakers.