What is the Difference Between a Defibulator & a Pacemaker?

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide.

According to a 2010 American Heart Association study, almost 37 percent of Americans had developed some form of cardiovascular disease in 2006. Defibulators and pacemakers are two medical tools designed to reduce the risk of dying from the No. 1 killer disease.

Internal Defibulator

An internal defibulator is a device implanted inside your chest that helps restore the natural rhythm of your heart in the event you should experience cardiac arrest or heart arrhythmia, a dangerous irregular heartbeat.

External Defibulator

An external defibulator is a device that sends an electrical shock through your heart when you suffer a heart attack. The shock makes the heart muscles contract, which hopefully makes the heart beat again.

Pacemaker

A pacemaker is also a device implanted near your heart designed to control your heartbeat after a heart attack or in cases where you suffer from a slow heartbeat.

Difference

The main difference between an implanted defibulator and a pacemaker is the fact that the defibulator only comes into action when it recognizes that the heart is in danger and responds with an electrical impulse. The pacemaker, on the other hand, continually controls the heartbeat and prevents it from beating too slowly.

References

• American Heart Association: Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, 2010 Update
• Mayo Clinic: Heart Disease
• Defibulators: Homepage
• MayoClinic.com: Pacemaker