Warning! This New Smartphone Can Meddle With Pacemakers
The recent release of the new iPhone 12
rehashed an old question in medicine. The new device has a stronger
built-in magnet than previous Apple devices, and cardiologists are
alarmed that the device could disrupt the work of pacemakers and
cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). Are these concerns warranted? And,
if so, is the new iPhone the only device that could meddle with these
cardiac devices?
Why People With Pacemakers and ICDs Should Use Electronic Devices Carefully
Cardiac devices are sensitive to the
magnetic fields produced by smartphones. Magnets are potentially the
strongest sources of such magnetic fields, which is why all people with
ICDs have been instructed to use electronic devices very carefully.
According to the American Heart Association, strong magnetic fields can
disrupt the functioning of ICDs. Therefore, ICD wearers are advised
against keeping cellphones (and other devices like iPods and
smartwatches) in the front shirt pocket, bra, or a wraparound purse
close to the device. Besides, one should avoid holding these devices
against the ear on the side the ICD is located (usually, the left side).
In a recent letter to the editor of the journal Heart Rhythm, a group of
doctors raised concerns over the new iPhone. They tested the safety of
the ICD and discovered that every time the smartphone was close to the
left side of the chest, the ICD immediately became suspended and didn’t
return to work while the mobile device was in proximity.
What Devices Can Suspend the Functioning of Cardiac Devices?
It isn’t just the new smartphones like the
iPhone 12 that could manifest this effect. Any electronic device with a
magnet could temporarily disable a pacemaker of an ICD. Earlier research
from 2020 suggests that wrist fitness trackers can likewise deactivate
an ICD when brought to a distance of 2.4 cm (1 in).
But why are these devices sensitive to magnets, in the first place?
Well, that’s just the way they are designed to work. In fact,
cardiologists routinely use magnets to adjust cardiac devices, and
magnets are intended to stop the work of the pacemaker and ICD during a
heart examination.
“The effect of a magnet on a pacemaker is usually to temporarily turn on
the pacing function and to ignore the signals from the heart. The
effect of a magnet on an ICD is usually to temporarily disable the ICD
response to the rapid heart rhythms that is necessary to save the
patient’s life,” said s Dr. Bruce L. Wilkoff to Healthline.
While this is perfectly fine in a controlled medical setting, having a
cardiac device stop working because you continuously keep it in your
left front pocket could pose a serious risk.
How to Use Mobile Devices Safely If You Have a Pacemaker or ICD
Before we go into the specific tips, you
must understand that your ICD or pacemakers do not break down when
exposed to magnets in a smartphone or a fitness tracker. Removing the
mobile device to a distance of 5 in (13 cm) and more will restore the
work of the ICD and pacemaker instantly.
So you don’t need to panic if you accidentally put your phone in your
front pocket for a minute. Likewise, don't be afraid to use mobile
devices or upgrade your old phone if you need to. With that said, you
must be cautious with the way you wear your smartwatch, how you talk on
the phone, and where you store your devices if you have a pacemaker or
ICD device.
Here are a few tips:
- Keep your phone or music player in a pocket or bag that’s not directly
over the pacemaker or ICD.
- Teach yourself to use the opposite ear for phone calls.
- Avoid wearing a wraparound bag around your chest.
- Wear your fitness tracker or smartwatch on the opposite hand to the
location of the pacemaker or ICD.
- Avoid wearing an earset on the same side as the cardiac device.