As the owner of a four-year-old pacemaker, I have often found myself trying to explain what they are, what they mean to other people. Just a warning here — a pacemaker will keep a heart beating. It is not a substitute for needing a replacement valve or a bypass or many of the other things done to keep a heart working properly. These are all procedures that might well b done in conjunction with getting a pacemaker.
Newer pacemakers are not metal and allow their owners to get MRIs and pass through airport checkpoints. Mine is metal, so not me.
Pacemaker batteries last for 10 to 12 years. How come no other battery lasts that long?
How To Fix A Broken Heart
THIS IS COOL. I WANT TO LEARN SOMETHING ELSE, TOO!
Video via – Real Engineering
Further Readings and References @ MSD Manual, British Heart Foundation, and Healthline
My dad had a pacemaker. He was about 95 years old when he had it fitted. Now and again they would do a check to see that it was working OK. I was angry with the English health care when they decided to transport him to have a check when he was in palliative care. He was an old sick man of more than 100 Years old. Of course his pacemaker was still working OK. 3 days later he passed away. I did what i could to stop this stupidity, but from Switzerland it was difficult and he was already on his way for the check up.
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I’m just glad they didn’t decide to reinstall a new one. They can be really stupid about this stuff.
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I agree that they can be really stupid about these things. You may have to take a stand for what you want at some point.
Leslie
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Pat, sounds like you had reason to be very angry.
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One could be tempted to say: If ONLY it was that easy to mend a broken heart…. but of course I know about it all and I’m not a cynical person (just maybe one with a twisted sense of humour). My late father in law had a triple bypass, amongst other health problems, but pacemakers are not a foreign word to me.
You know, I was posing the same question too – how come that ‘some’ batteries last so long (learned about this reading technical articles on battery making) – THIS is, at least, a very worthy cause!
This video channel is a very interesting one. Thank you for pointing me towards it. Although maybe I shouldn’t thank you because I get distracted from real life for far too long…. 🙂 (excuse, very valid: I learn something every single day & time….)
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A couple of male friends had pacemakers, and we were grateful for those batteries just as I am for yours. 🙂
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I’m just focused on my up upcoming cochlear implant surgery. I hope I’ll have only good stories to share.
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