If a patient thinks that they might be in an environment of powerful EMF, they should talk to their physicians.

“Patients should inform the doctors before device implantation if they are exposed to strong electromagnetic fields in daily practice or in the work environment,” Napp told Reuters. “During follow up visits in the pacemaker outpatient clinic, care must be taken while reprogramming the sensitivity of the device.”


When asked about the risks of interference, Dr. Gordon Tomaselli, chief of cardiology at Johns Hopkins Medicine, told the wire service that most tools were probably not a big problem, but he did warn about one.

“Welders are a problem, but with most other tools people would use I don’t prohibit that,” Tomaselli said. “But certainly if people are feeling odd or fatigued or having symptoms like they had before they got the pacemaker I tell them to see me or see their doctor.”

According to the American Heart Association, there are a number of common devices that can interfere with pacemakers, including:

• Anti-theft systems (also called electronic article surveillance or EAS)


• Metal detectors for security


• Some headphones


• Power-generating equipment, arc welding equipment and powerful magnets

Back to HCB News

Cardiology Homepage