How many types of implantable heart devices are there and what do they do?
The two common types of implantable heard devices are pacemakers and defibrillators. Pacemakers are often implanted into patients who suffer from a slow heart beat. If the heart rate becomes too slow, the pacemaker releases a small jolt of electricity to speed the beat back up to the appropriate speed. A defibrillator is implanted in patients who experience irregular heart beats. If the defibrillator detects an unstable rhythm, it will release an electrical shock to shock the patient’s heart back to a more regular rhythm. The shock of the defibrillator is much more powerful than the one released by a pacemaker.
