Beware! Household appliances used in close proximity with the body may cause pacemaker failure

A traditional pacemaker. (Representational image)

New Delhi: Pacemakers, devices that are placed in the chest or abdomen to help control abnormal heart rhythms, are sensitive enough to be impacted by everyday household items, a study has warned.

Since pacemakers use low-energy electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate, the study suggests that electric and magnetic fields generated from certain household items may meddle with its functions if used at a close proximity with the body.

Researchers tested under different conditions the impacts of Electric and magnetic fields (EMF) exposure on about 119 patients with pacemakers.

Pacemakers are small battery-operated devices that help the heart beat in a regular rhythm.

The patients were exposed to an EMF similar to common exposure, that is EMFs at power grid frequencies of 50Hz or 60Hz, then the EMF was increased until the researchers noted a pacemaker sensing failure.

The study found that pacemakers are susceptible to EMF that can occur in everyday life, in particular when programmed to maximum sensitivity or so called unipolar sensing mode.

"Electromagnetic interferences with pacemakers in everyday life can occur. However, harmful interferences are rare using vendors recommended device settings," said Andreas Napp, cardiologist at the RWTH Aachen University Hospital in Germany.

Examples of EMF sources are powerlines, household appliances, electrical tools and entertainment electronics.

"Electromagnetic interference with pacemakers can result in bradycardia, or a slow heart rate," Napp added.

In many cases, holding the appliance, tool or other EMF source at a forearm's length distance, greater than 12 inches limits the risk of electromagnetic interference.

However, further measures might be needed in environments with strong EMF, such as engines used in the processing or manufacturing industry, researchers said.

The study was published in the journal Circulation.

(With PTI inputs)