Ipods: The New Culprit In Pacemaker Malfunctions

iPods: The New Culprit in Pacemaker Malfunctions

A new study published in this month's HealthDay magazine found iPods to affect the function of pacemakers. A research team of doctors from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan found that the popular music player caused pacemakers to malfunction in 50% of the patients studied. The study consisted of 83 patients who held an iPod two inches from their chest for ten seconds. The result was recorded interference in 29% of the patients, over sensing or misreading in another 20% of patients and the pacemaker even stopped working in one patient. The study found that interference was detected even when the iPods were held as far as 18 inches away from the chest. This causes concern among doctors, as well as patients, due to the importance of the pacemaker. The main function of the pacemaker is to store the history of the heart's rhythms. If the rhythms were read inaccurately, the physician might think the patient is having abnormal rhythms and could be treated for false conditions. The iPod is now among the list of electrical devices that doctors advise their patients to keep away from their chest. The list already consists of cell phones, appliances, microwave oven, and high tension wires. The patients are told not to wear iPods around their arm or place the musical device in a shirt pocket, but it can be safely used when keeping the iPod from proximity of the pacemaker. This study has made it clear that the inappropriate placement of the iPod on the body can affect the pacing function and lead to a severe reaction. It could even cause problems in patients with implanted pacemaker defibrillators and cause inappropriate shock, which is both painful and traumatic. -30-