how does an artificial pacemaker affect the patients lives
1 When the natural pacemaker is defective, the heartbeat may be too fast, too slow or irregular. 2  Rhythm problems also can occur because of a blockage of your heart's electrical pathways. 3  The artificial pacemaker's pulse generator sends electrical impulses to the heart to help it pump properly. Your heartbeat is sometimes normal and sometimes too fast or too slow. 2  The sinoatrial (SA) node or sinus node is the heart's natural pacemaker. 3  It's a small mass of specialized cells in the top of the right atrium (upper chamber of the heart).