The American Heart Association just released new research that shows MP3 player headphones may cause potentially dangerous interactions with pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs).
For safe use, MP3 player headphones have to be kept at least 1.2 inches (3 cm) from any implanted heart devices.
Sound is produced in headphones via magnets. Headphones use the magnetic substance neodymium, which affects pacemakers and ICDs.
The researchers found a detectable interference in the
headphones in 14 patients, (23 percent). Specifically, they observed
that 15 percent of the pacemaker patients and 30 percent of the
defibrillator patients had a magnet response.
"For patients with pacemakers, exposure to the headphones can force the
device to deliver signals to the heart, causing it to beat without
regard to the patients' underlying heart rhythm," said William H. Maisel, M.D., M.P.H., senior author of the study, "Exposure of
a defibrillator to the headphones can temporarily deactivate the
defibrillator."
In most cases, removal of the headphones restores
normal device function.
The report warns, patients should be instructed to keep their headphones at least 3 cm from their
implantable devices. Patients should not place headphones in their pocket or drape them over their chest.
Family members or friends of patients with implantable
defibrillators should avoid wearing headphones and resting their
head right on top of someone's device. More information from AHA.
iPhoners and Bluetooth users with pacemakers or ICS don't have to worry - Unrelated research did not find adverse reactions to pacemakers and
defibrillators from iPods, Bluetooth headsets, iPhones, electric
blankets, hand-held airport metal detectors or pills swallowed to
perform video endoscopy.