What Precisely Is a Pace Maker?
A pacemaker is small metal box that contains a computerized battery-powered generator. One, two or three wires with electrodes come out of one side of the box and connect directly to the heart.
Purpose
A pacemaker helps to regulate the heartbeat using electrical pulses.
Location
Pacemakers are inserted just under the skin in the abdomen or chest.
Computer Chip
A computer chip tells the pacemaker's generator when to send electrical pulses to the heart.
Transmitting Information
A computer chip inside the pacemaker receives information from the heart through the wires, allowing it monitor blood temperature, breathing and movement.
Recording Data
According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, a pacemaker's computer chip also records data about the heart's rhythm and electrical activity. Cardiologists use this information to adjust the pacemaker for optimal performance.
Programming Types
Demand pacemakers stimulate the heart when it skips a beat or is beating too slowly. A rate-responsive pacemaker can slow down or speed up the heart, depending on activity level
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