Heart Health
Pacemaker precautions in the age of electrification
Are electric cars, induction cooktops, and tech gadgets safe for people with implanted heart devices?
- Reviewed by Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Concerns over climate change have sparked growing interest in electric cars, induction cooktops, and other products powered by renewable electricity sources instead of fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels such as gasoline and natural gas contributes to air pollution — an important but often overlooked contributor to heart disease.
But if you or a loved one is among the estimated 2.5 million Americans who have an implanted heart device (see "Pacemakers vs. ICDs"), you may have wondered about the safety of products that use or generate electromagnetic energy. Companies that make implanted heart devices provide patients with brochures that list known products and gadgets that might affect the heart devices. For many gadgets (such as newer-model smartphones, wireless earbuds or headphones, and remote keyless entry fobs), you're advised to keep them six to 12 inches away from your heart device. Greater distances are recommended for electric vehicle charging stations (at least 12 inches) and induction cooktops (12 to 24 inches). But what happens if you accidentally use or get too close to one of these sources?
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About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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