Electric blankets

Electric blankets

by heartily - 2024-11-12 12:05:50

Hello,

I don't have definitive data, but I use an electic throw and an electric blanket which  I have on low all  night and I'm still here to tell the tale!

Electric blanket

by piglet22 - 2024-11-12 12:15:44

Hello

Basically, a standard electric blanket uses simple resistive heating like an old style electric bar heater.

All this means is that there's nothing to cause interference with a pacemaker. It's no more risk than a wall heater or an electric cooker hob i.e. not inductive.

Note, I say basically. Avoid types with fancy controls like remote control and stick to basic controls with just ON/OFF and some heat settings.

If you need a timer, use one that plugs into a wall socket. Again avoid "smart" controls that use WiFi. The risk would be small as if you have a bedside monitor for your pacemaker, that might already use communications similar to WiFi.

To be on the safe side, when you are in bed, observe the 6 inch rule and keep the blanket and it's elements away from direct contact with the PM site.

If it's an underblanket type and you don't sleep on your front, the risk is less than an over blanket.

Edit

Do provide some information in your biography.

Minimum device type and manufacturer and some idea why you have a device in the first place. It all helps to answer your questions.

Electric Blankets

by PortCityPacer - 2024-11-12 16:38:59

Before I got my pacemaker my EP said I would not be able to sleep under an electric blanket, needless to say I was disappointed, however reading the owners manual that came with my Boston Scienctific CRT-P it specifically says an electric blanket is safe "under normal use".

Safety

by piglet22 - 2024-11-12 19:33:22

With this sort of thing, you have to ask the question what sort of risk are we talking about?

Is it will the device start doing things it isn't supposed to do? i.e. will the set up be corrupted? 

Will it be damaged by powerful electromagnetic fields? Will the leads act as antenna and cause interference?

It's all too easy to overthink these things.

I doubt that a simple electric blanket poses any more risk to a pacemaker patient than anyone else.

It's a low wattage heating element.

It has, UK, 240 volts at one end and 0 volts at the other. It's like underfloor heating or old style Xmas tree lights.

Grab the wrong end and you get 240 volts. Grab the other you get nothing.

My house wiring has no earth. The neutral is the earth.

If you want to be super safe, use a ground fault detection device (RCD UK).

If a medic says it isn't safe ask them why. Faraday cage interferes with communication or stick a pin in it?

Keep it simple and use common sense.

Hmmm

by Lavender - 2024-11-12 22:34:38

Yes I used an electric blanket for about two minutes. Lol. I have a Boston Sci pacemaker and their manual says electric blankets are safe.

However, I felt a sinking feeling as soon as I tried it. I shut it right off. I felt weird but ok as soon as it was turned off. Mine has a dial with maybe 10 settings it's not just off and on. I never used it again. 

Call medtronic and ask what they think for your pacemaker model. 

Lavender

by piglet22 - 2024-11-13 07:10:20

I wonder what that sinking feeling was.

Did you get any symptoms, HR changed, light-headed? Over-blanket or under-blanket?

I'm not disputing what you experienced. Could it be coincidence, anticipation that something might go wrong?

One thing you can be absolutely certain of is that all the device manufacturers, Boston, Medtronic, Abbott etc., will have done extensive research on interferences and so on. Boston say it's safe.

Medication, treatments etc., usually have reporting schemes and it might be useful to give your feedback to Boston. Perhaps they could suggest one.

Good rules with any electrical stuff are to go for established brands, look for approvals standards marks (UK are BSI and or CE). On-line sites like eBay and Amazon are flooded with some very iffy stuff and standards marks are easy to forge. Apparently CE, the European Conformity mark has been used for China Export.

Sadly, many well-known brands have outsourced manufacturing or simply badge generic Chinese stuff.

Alternatively, turn it off before you get in, hot water bottle, decent duvet. I tried a space blanket on top once, but it's too noisy. One underneath might work. I wouldn’t recommend some of mediaeval methods like the chambermaid.

Electric Blankets

by Lurker (Doc DX) - 2024-11-13 08:57:18

I use an electric blanket in the winter. No problems.

Doc DX

Piglet

by Lavender - 2024-11-13 09:57:26

I too wonder if I should give the electric blanket another try. It very well could have been anxiety as I got under the covers.

It was early on when I got my pacemaker so maybe that was part of it too. It was a feeling kind of like when my device is tested at pacemaker clinic-you know the "down the roller coaster" sensation. 

I do like the idea of turning it on to warm the bed before getting in and then shutting it off before getting in!🧐

Hi Lavender

by piglet22 - 2024-11-14 07:57:18

I know the roller coaster feeling well. It's that "whoa" moment. I call it the hump-backed bridge moment when your chest feels empty. Apart from the clinic, I could get them anytime, before and after the pacemaker.

Do give it a go, but keep an eye on your vitals, like pulse.

If it does it again and hopefully it doesn't, then someone could be for the high jump.

You could start cautiously starting with your feet and work upwards.

Older style blankets used very simple heat controls and probably didn't have other stuff like temperature sensors to provide feedback for temperature control.

I see there are some available now that use much lower voltages at DC rather than AC.

Beware of getting into that anxiety feedback loop, like my blood pressure is going to be high and sure enough, it is.

If you do get repeatable symptoms, then that would be valuable information to have.

In some ways, our devices do rule our lives insofar as we have to look after them, but we mustn't let them have total control and be prepared to push the boundaries a bit. As the recipient of too many electric shocks, which you would think would be the most dangerous thing to do, I can tell you the PM never complained.

Good luck