More and more people are having pacemakers inserted, and a large number of internal defibrillators are being used in patients with serious heart disease. These can be affected by magnetic fields, in fact, when the pacemakers are checked different magnetic signals are used to interrogate (find out previous rhythms) and also program these very complicated electronic machines. It is potentially possible for strong magnetic fields either to turn off the pacemakers or defibrillators temporarily or possibly even reprogram them.
I've discussed this a little more on my website (click here) .
Metal detectors at airports can make a temporary change in pacemaker function, and people with pacemakers should be encouraged to walk relatively rapidly through these. Also asked the man or lady with the wand detector to move the wand past the pacemaker area fairly quickly.
One recent real concern, however, has been electric cars which are becoming increasingly common, and with the electronic fields created by charging, and also the magnetic component of the motor and possibly batteries – could this affect pacemakers? In a recent study reassuringly the modern electric vehicles appeared to make no difference to either pacemakers or implantable defibrillators. The magnetic fields are highest when the cars are being charged, so it is probably best not to sit in the front seat of the car or near the batteries while the car is being charged. The message, however,is very reassuring. Whether this will apply to the new super-sized electric cars or extremely rapid charging we do not know, but at the moment they appear to be to be very safe.
