An iPod alert for pacemaker, ICD users

By Harvard Heart Letter
September 25, 2007

If you have a pacemaker or implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), you have probably been warned not to keep a cell phone in your breast pocket or hold it near your heart.

The same rule should apply to an iPod or other portable music or video player. A study presented at the Heart Rhythm Society meeting this spring showed that a turned-on iPod held two inches away from the chest for five to 10 seconds can interfere with a pacemaker's function. In most cases, the interference was minor, such as making the pacemaker store a record of a heart-rhythm problem when none existed.

In one of the 100 volunteers, though, the music player prevented the pacemaker from sending "beat now" signals when it was supposed to. Although the study tested only iPods, it is likely that other digital music players would do the same things.

The players aren't the province of the young. We've seen plenty of older folks using them while exercising or walking. If you use one and have a pacemaker or ICD, follow the common-sense strategies you use with a cell phone or other source of electromagnetic energy -- keep the device a foot or two away from your heart.

8 Comments

ICD's

by kyle0816 - 2007-09-26 11:09:11

I have one of the ICD's that also has a pacemaker built-in. The thing is I don't use the pacemaker part of the device. I've been wondering if the iPods would be fine with an ICD since it seems to only affect the pacemacker part of the device. If I remember I'll give Medtronic a call to see what they say, that is unless someone out here has already done so.

ipod and pacemaker

by Papaguy - 2007-09-27 03:09:40

I also have a Medtronic and would like to know whether a Palmone agenda that can also handle digital music would have the same effect on a PM. I always carry mine in my shirt left pocket. Let us know what Medtronic has to say.

A word of caution.

by johng - 2007-09-27 08:09:54

With reference to this report.
I believe it was conducted by a seventeen year old student.
I asked the Heart Rhythm Society for more information about the statistical standards used in this "study".
I am still waiting for a reply.
I admire the young man's enthusiasism, but have reservations about his ability to diagnose reactions of a medical nature.
Johng

I'd like to know more....

by meema - 2007-09-28 09:09:46

I have both a PalmOne Tungsten E2 and a 60gig iPod. I was petrified about using my cell phone and have touched neither the Palm or the iPod since I heard about this. I use both of these devices quite a bit and would hate to have to give them up.

Linda

Medtronic call

by kyle0816 - 2007-09-28 12:09:00

So I called Medtronic. The woman in patient services said that there is no concern with ipods. She said the study was done by a high school kid and that it wasn't done on a Medtronic device. She also said the thing to be worried about is if something has an antenna (like a cell phone). She was telling me that the antenna of a cell phone if held against an ICD might make the device think you are having a fast heart rate and give you a shock. Since the ipod has no antenna (although now that I think of it the new itouch has a wifi antenna hmmmm) there should be no problem and even if it did you should just treat it like a cell phone.
I have no clue if she is correct, just relaying the message.

scares? !!

by kathyknowles53 - 2007-10-14 04:10:29

why do the people that make the p m s give out a list of does and donts with their things? when you get drugs {scription } there is a list of dangers and cautions and surely a p m is a lot more dangerous to you if you miss use it! i am in england and only this site gives any info that i have found

re scares

by kathyknowles53 - 2007-10-14 04:10:36

when i read what i wrote i saw i forgot the dont bit!!!! why dont people that make pms sorry am getting old!

ipod

by meema - 2007-11-12 01:11:47

When I had my post op visit 2 weeks ago, the PA called Medtronics and asked about the use of an iPod. I was told to keep it away from the side the pm is on and that there should be no problem. Has anyone else received information like this?

You know you're wired when...

You have a 25 year mortgage on your device.

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