What is a pacemaker?
A pacemaker prevents symptoms caused by slow heart rhythms. In this video, Dr Ravi Assomull explains how pacemakers work and when they are required.
Have a question about your own heart health? Book a consultation with Dr Assomull – no GP referral needed, appointments typically within one working day.
Transcript
As you age, so does the electrical system of the heart, and as the electrical wiring in your heart starts to fail, it may be that your heart rhythm becomes erratic or too slow. When that happens, there's a danger of developing symptoms such as dizziness, or worse still, actually losing consciousness. That's when you need a pacemaker.
A pacemaker is a device that typically sits under your collarbone of your non-dominant hand, and attached to that device are two wires that are implanted into the right side of the heart to sense when the heart is going too slowly, and to generate a little impulse to make the heart contract and prevent these pauses that cause dizziness or loss of consciousness.
