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How does a pacemaker work?

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Quick answer

A pacemaker works as a small implanted device that sends tiny electrical pulses to keep the heart beating at a steady rhythm. When it senses the heart beating too slowly or irregularly, it delivers a gentle electrical signal to prompt a beat.

Step by step

  1. It's a small device implanted near the heart.
  2. Thin wires carry signals to the heart muscle.
  3. It monitors the heart's natural rhythm constantly.
  4. If the beat is too slow or irregular, it sends a pulse.
  5. A battery lasts years before needing replacement.

People also ask

How does a pacemaker regulate the heartbeat?
It senses the heart's rhythm and, when it detects a beat that's too slow or skipped, delivers a small electrical pulse to trigger a beat.
Does a pacemaker run all the time?
It monitors continuously but usually only fires when needed, stepping in for missed or slow beats rather than replacing every beat.
How long does a pacemaker last?
Its battery typically lasts several years to over a decade, after which the unit is replaced in a minor procedure.