Implantable Cardiac Devices in Grand Rapids, MI

In a healthy heart, regular electrical signals cause the heart muscle to contract in a steady rhythm and pump blood efficiently throughout the body. When this electrical system is not working properly, the heart can beat too fast, too slowly, or in an irregular way (arrhythmia).

In Grand Rapids, Michigan, cardiology teams at Spectrum Health (Corewell Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, and Mercy Health often use implantable cardiac devices to help manage abnormal heart rhythms and protect patients from serious complications.

What Are Implantable Cardiac Devices?

Implantable cardiac devices are small electronic devices placed under the skin of your chest to help control abnormal heart rhythms. The most common types are:

  • Permanent pacemakers
  • Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs or AICDs)
  • Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices for certain types of heart failure

These devices can:

  • Help your heart beat at a regular rate and rhythm
  • Improve symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath
  • Reduce your risk of fainting, heart failure, or sudden cardiac death
  • Improve quality of life and, in some cases, be lifesaving

In West Michigan, where heart disease and high blood pressure are common, especially during cold Grand Rapids winters that can strain the cardiovascular system, these devices play an important role in long-term heart care.

How the Heart’s Natural Pacemaker Works

The heart has its own electrical system. The sinoatrial (SA) node, often called the heart’s natural pacemaker, sends electrical signals that:

  1. Start in the upper chambers (atria)
  2. Travel through the heart’s electrical pathways
  3. Cause the lower chambers (ventricles) to contract and pump blood

If the SA node or electrical pathways are not working properly, your heart may:

  • Beat too slowly (bradycardia)
  • Beat too quickly (tachycardia)
  • Beat in an irregular pattern (arrhythmia)

When this happens, a permanent pacemaker or ICD may be recommended by your Grand Rapids cardiologist.

Permanent Pacemakers

What Is a Permanent Pacemaker?

A permanent pacemaker is a small, battery-powered device inserted under the skin of your upper chest (usually just below the collarbone). It sends gentle electrical signals to your heart to help it beat in a regular rhythm.

A pacemaker usually has two main parts:

  • Generator (pacemaker box) – contains the battery and computer
  • Leads (wires) – thin, insulated wires that carry electrical signals between the generator and your heart

In Grand Rapids, pacemaker implantation is commonly performed at:

  • Spectrum Health Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids cardiac services
  • Metro Health – University of Michigan cardiology clinics

Types of Pacemakers

Your cardiologist will choose the type of pacemaker based on your heart rhythm problem:

  1. Single-chamber pacemaker

    • Sends electrical signals to one chamber of the heart
    • Usually to a ventricle (lower chamber)

  2. Dual-chamber pacemaker

    • Sends signals to two chambers (typically one atrium and one ventricle)
    • Helps coordinate the timing between the upper and lower chambers

  3. Biventricular pacemaker (CRT device)

    • Sends signals to three chambers (both ventricles and sometimes an atrium)
    • Helps both lower chambers pump together
    • Often used in people with heart failure
    • Also called cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)

Some newer pacemakers, known as leadless pacemakers, can be implanted directly inside the heart and do not require leads.

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs)

What Is an ICD?

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD or AICD) is a device placed under the skin of your chest that continuously monitors your heart rhythm 24 hours a day.

An ICD can:

  • Work like a pacemaker when your heart beats too slowly
  • Deliver a small or strong electric shock if your heart beats dangerously fast or chaotically
  • Restore a normal rhythm and help prevent sudden cardiac death

ICDs are often recommended if:

  • You have had a life-threatening fast rhythm that caused you to collapse
  • You are at high risk for certain dangerous arrhythmias (for example, due to prior heart attack or cardiomyopathy)

Like pacemakers, ICDs have:

  • An ICD generator box (battery and computer)
  • Leads that connect to your heart

Types of ICDs

There are different types of ICDs, including:

  • Transvenous ICDs – traditional ICDs with leads placed inside the heart
  • Subcutaneous ICDs (S-ICDs) – sit under the skin with a lead under the chest wall but not inside the heart

Your Grand Rapids cardiologist or electrophysiologist will discuss which type is most suitable for you based on your heart condition, age, and lifestyle.

How Implantable Heart Devices Are Fitted

The Procedure

Implantable heart devices are usually placed:

  • Under the skin of your upper chest
  • In the space just below your collarbone

The procedure is typically done:

  • Under local anesthetic (the area is numbed with an injection)
  • With sedation to help you relax
  • Occasionally under general anesthesia, depending on your health and the type of device

The surgery usually takes 1 to 3 hours. Depending on your device and overall health, you may:

  • Go home the same day, or
  • Stay overnight in a Grand Rapids hospital for monitoring

After the Procedure

Before you leave the hospital:

  • Your device will be thoroughly checked
  • You’ll receive written instructions about:
    • Caring for your incision
    • Activities to avoid while healing
    • When to follow up with your device clinic

During the first few weeks:

  • You may feel the device under your skin and some discomfort
  • You should avoid:
    • Lifting heavy objects with the arm on the device side
    • Reaching overhead repeatedly on the device side
    • Wearing tight clothing that rubs on the incision

Most people in Grand Rapids are able to return to everyday activities and light exercise within a few weeks, depending on their cardiologist’s advice.

Living With an Implantable Cardiac Device in Grand Rapids

Work and Daily Activities

Most people can:

  • Return to work after recovery
  • Drive (depending on Michigan driving regulations and your specific heart condition)
  • Perform routine household tasks

You should discuss with your doctor if you:

  • Are a commercial driver or drive for work
  • Operate heavy machinery
  • Work with welders, electric generators, or industrial equipment

Exercise and Sports

In general:

  • Walking, light jogging, biking, and many gym activities are safe once your doctor clears you
  • High-contact sports (like hockey, football, or martial arts) can increase the risk of blows to your chest and may not be recommended

Talk with your cardiologist about safe activity levels, especially if you enjoy outdoor winter activities common in West Michigan, such as ice skating or snow shoveling, which can put extra strain on the heart.

Sex Life

Having a pacemaker or ICD should not interfere with your sex life. If you feel anxious or unsure, speak with your doctor or cardiac nurse.

Emotional and Mental Health Support

Living with an implantable heart device can feel stressful. It is normal to:

  • Worry about getting a shock from an ICD
  • Feel anxious about device checks or battery life
  • Be concerned about how your life has changed

Support options in Grand Rapids include:

  • Talking with your cardiologist or primary care provider
  • Meeting with a cardiac rehab team (available at major Grand Rapids hospitals)
  • Seeking counseling or support through:
    • Kent County Health Department mental health referrals
    • Local support groups for heart patients (often coordinated through hospital cardiac programs)

Openly discussing your concerns with loved ones and your care team can make a big difference.

Device Checks and Follow-Up Care

Regular Device Checks

You will need regular follow-up appointments at a device clinic to:

  • Check your heart’s electrical function
  • Review your device settings
  • Monitor battery life

Device checks are usually done in specialized device clinics at local hospitals and cardiology practices in Grand Rapids. During a check:

  • A wireless wand may be placed over your skin above the device
  • Information is read from the device and analyzed by your care team

Remote Monitoring

Many newer pacemakers and ICDs offer remote monitoring, allowing your doctor to:

  • Check your device while you are at home in Grand Rapids or elsewhere
  • Receive alerts if there are concerns about your heart rhythm or device function

Battery Life

Most pacemakers and ICDs last 5 to 15 years, depending on:

  • The type of device
  • How often it needs to send signals or deliver shocks

Your doctor will:

  • Monitor the battery at each visit
  • Plan a battery replacement procedure before it runs low (this usually involves replacing the generator, not the leads)

Your Device ID Card

You will be given an ID card for your implantable heart device. It is important to:

  • Carry your ID card with you at all times
  • Keep a list of your medicines with you
  • Take a photo of your card and share it with a family member or caregiver

This information is especially helpful in emergencies at Grand Rapids-area hospitals and urgent care centers.

Security Scanners and Travel

Airports and Stores

Security systems in:

  • Airports (e.g., Gerald R. Ford International Airport)
  • Stores with anti-theft detectors

rarely cause problems with implantable heart devices, but you should:

  • Inform security staff that you have a pacemaker or ICD
  • Show your device ID card
  • Ask them not to hold a hand-held metal detector directly over your device

You may set off metal detectors, but this does not mean your device is malfunctioning.

Mobile Phones and Other Devices

Most household appliances are safe to use, including:

  • Microwaves
  • Electric blankets
  • Hair dryers
  • TVs

However, some devices with strong magnetic fields can interfere with your implantable heart device.

General Precautions

  • Do not carry your cell phone in a shirt pocket directly over your device
  • Keep mobile phones and smart devices at least 6 inches (15 cm) away from your device
  • Be cautious around:
    • Magnetic mattresses and pillows
    • Bathroom scales that measure body fat
    • Chainsaws
    • Industrial welders
    • Electric generators
    • Magnetic bracelets and strong magnets

If your work in West Michigan involves industrial equipment, talk with your cardiologist or device clinic about safe distances and precautions.

Medical and Dental Procedures

Some medical and dental procedures can interfere with your device. Always:

  • Inform all health professionals (including dentists, physical therapists, and chiropractors) that you have a pacemaker or ICD
  • Show your device ID card before any procedure

MRI Scans

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is not always safe for people with older devices
  • Many newer devices are MRI-conditional or MRI-safe if certain conditions are met
  • If you need an MRI in Grand Rapids:
    • Tell the MRI facility about your device in advance
    • They will coordinate with your cardiologist or device clinic

TENS Machines and Other Equipment

  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) units, used for pain relief, may interfere with some devices
  • Always talk to your doctor before using a TENS unit or similar equipment

End-of-Life Considerations (ICDs)

For people approaching end of life, especially those with serious illness:

  • It may not be appropriate for an ICD to remain active and deliver shocks
  • Inactivating an ICD can be considered to focus on comfort and quality of life

Discuss your wishes with:

  • Your cardiologist
  • Your primary care provider
  • Your family

Grand Rapids hospitals and palliative care teams can help guide these decisions.

Local Resources and Where to Get Help in Grand Rapids, MI

In an emergency, always call 911.

For non-emergency heart concerns related to implantable cardiac devices:

  • Your Grand Rapids primary care provider (GP)
  • Your cardiologist or electrophysiologist
  • Your implantable heart device clinic at:
    • Spectrum Health / Corewell Health
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
    • Mercy Health
  • Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health for community resources and heart health programs

You can also refer to national organizations such as the American Heart Association for more information on pacemakers, ICDs, and living with heart disease.

Key Points About Implantable Cardiac Devices

  • In a healthy heart, regular electrical signals keep your heart beating in a steady rhythm.
  • Problems with the heart’s electrical system can cause the heart to beat too fast, too slowly, or irregularly.
  • Treatment for an abnormal heart rhythm depends on the cause and how it affects your health; pacemakers and ICDs are common options in Grand Rapids.
  • It is important to follow your doctor’s advice about medications, activity levels, and lifestyle changes (including managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and smoking, which are key issues in Michigan).
  • Regular device checks are essential to monitor your heart’s electrical function, device settings, and battery life.

If you live in the Grand Rapids area and think you may benefit from an implantable cardiac device, talk with your primary care provider or request a referral to a local cardiologist for a thorough evaluation.