What Do Pacemakers Do? - a podcast by Osceola Regional Medical Center

We all have natural pacemakers in our heart; the function of the natural pacemaker is to provide electrical impulses that are generated at different levels in the heart to keep the heart pumping from an electrical standpoint. There are various reasons why the natural pacemakers of the heart fail and one of the most common reasons is that we grow old. And we tend to have what the scientific and technical reason is sick sinus syndrome or heart attack or you have a heart block or you have sustained trauma to your heart. There are a variety of reasons and once these reasons are determined that a low heart rate is actually causing symptoms for you then a pacemaker is indicated. / A pacemaker is probably one of the most commonly used devices that are implanted; it is almost like skin surgery these days. It takes about an hour or so to do, and the technology has gone better that the batteries and wires that are placed inside your heart have gotten so small that you barely feel them once you put them in. The battery life last about 8 years or so and the mortality or the risk associated with this procedure is relatively low.

Further episodes of Cardiologist FAQ

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