Explain why a person who survives a myocardial infarction might need to have an artificial pacemaker implanted.

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1. A myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked for a long enough time that part of the heart muscle is damaged or dies. This can affect the heart's electrical system.
2. The heart's electrical system controls the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat. Damage from a myocardial infarction can disrupt this system, potentially leading to arrhythmias, which are irregular heartbeats.
3. If the natural pacemaker of the heart (the sinoatrial node) or other parts of the electrical pathway are damaged, the heart may beat too slowly, too fast, or with an irregular rhythm, which can be life-threatening.
4. An artificial pacemaker is a small device that's placed in the chest or abdomen to help control abnormal heart rhythms. This device uses electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate.
5. Implanting an artificial pacemaker post-myocardial infarction can be crucial if the heart's natural pacemaker is no longer capable of maintaining an adequate heart rate or rhythm to meet the body's needs.