Pacemakers and Electrical Equipment

[Ewigkeit]

It has often been said that persons with pacemakers should avoid mocrowave ovens and certain other electrical equipment.  The veracity of this statement depends on the particular pacemaker.  For example, with most St. Jude Pulse Generators microwave ovens are no problem so long as they are in good operating condition.  This caveat applies to all household appliances.  If you have a pacemaker, you should never use equipment with frayed or broken cords or improper grounding, since these can be sources of electromagnetic interference (EMI). It would be a wise idea to have your home wiring upgraded to provide for outlets which accept three-prong plugs. Additionally, be sure that all appliances with two-prong plugs are polarized (one prong wider than the other). Electric razors should not be held close to the chest if you have a pacemaker since prolonged exposure can also expose the device to EMI.
If you have a pacemaker, doubtless you have received a booklet with it.  That booklet is VERY good reading.  Anyone with further questions should always consult his/her doctor.
REMEMBER: While it is true that many pacemakers can safely operate around a microwave oven, this may not be true for all units.  If in doubt on this point, it's best to avoid your microwave until you can consult your doctor on the matter.

[walker starr]

In 2002 my heart was found to be beating far faster than it should have been.  My doctor,the surgeon, told me it was a flutter and that it was necessary to have a procedure done immediately.  He also said that if the procedure did not help he would then install a pacemaker.  His procedure (non-invasive) was successful so no pacemaker. Thank you GOD ! 

[Ewigkeit]

That's quite interesting since pacemakers generally control bradycardia, but they don't control tachycardia.  That is normally done either medically with beta blockers such as Toprol (Metoprolol) or surgically by implanting a defibrillator. A defibrillator is somewhat different from a regular pacemaker in that it provides a jolt to restore normal rhythm when the heart has gone into extreme tachycardia with atrial fibrillation.  Ventricular fibrillation is another animal, being a lethal rhythm incapable of sustaining life.  It is much harder to stabilize and save a patient from v-fib than from a-fib.