ICDs and electrical interference. Fact or Fiction?
There are stories galore about how electrical interference can cause havoc for people living with an ICD.
Everybody knows a horror story and will be quick to share it with you if they know you have an ICD implanted.
Do not despair – there is more fiction around than truth and to hear the true side of the stories talk to your ICD centre who will tell you exactly what is likely to cause problems and what is completely safe.
Because your ICD is housed in a metal case and is implanted in your body it is well protected from most electrical signals. The ICD manufacturers also build in certain safety features to the highly complex electronics within the ICD, these features help the unit to detect and reject electrical noise.
Areas where there may be some degree of danger are from equipment that can generate the same sort of level of signals as the heart generates or from very heavy-duty electrical machinery that may generate really high-level electro-magnetic noise.
Most of the people who have ICDs implanted are very unlikely to come into contact with any heavy duty machinery or equipment that will cause them concern on a day-to-day basis and therefore need only to know what may cause problems under certain conditions.
Anyone who works in an environment where there may be risk will be carefully checked out and monitored to ensure that they are safe to return to work without any problems.
Which electrical items are safe?
Household - domestic appliances.
Electric drills, CD/MP3 players, TV’s, Hairdryers, Microwave ovens, Computers, Hedge Cutters, Lawnmowers and Sewing Machines are all perfectly OK to use as you always have before. Practically everything in the household environment has been declared safe for ICD patients.
Induction hobs.
It has been reported that cooking appliances with Induction Hobs pose a possible risk. We would therefore suggest that you should avoid using them. (If you must use one, don't stir the pans with a conductive utensil.) (Gets you out of doing the cooking! )
Mobile telephones.
Mobile phones are safe but it is recommended that you use the phone in your right hand, the opposite side to your ICD.
Many people worry that if someone is using a mobile phone in close proximity to them it will cause problems. This is nonsense, most ICD patients carry mobile phones in case of emergency and will have no problems at all.
Airport security systems.
This is an area where there may be a tiny risk of problems so the advice given is that ICD patients should not go through airport security checks and should show their ID cards to the security staff who should hand-search them.
It is also recommended that hand-held wands should not be used. If someone insists that you do go through a security system, just walk quickly through without stopping.
Shop security systems.
Shop security systems (Electronic Article Surveillance) have been subjected to much testing. It has been found that an ICD can be triggered if the patient is leaning against the actual system for any length of time. The advice therefore is:
NO LOITERING IN SHOP DOORWAYS.WALK STRAIGHT THROUGH!
Hospital environments.
Some equipment used in hospitals can cause interference with an ICD. People who have ICDs implanted must not have MRI scans, TNS (electrical stimulation sometimes used for pain control) or some physiotherapy treatments.
If you have to go for any other form of hospital or dental treatment always make sure that you let your consultant or nurse know that you have an ICD implanted. If there is any question of safety they will contact your ICD centre and make sure that there is no problem.
Diagnostic Xrays
Are quite safe but therapeutic radiation for treatment of tumours may need to be checked out. If your consultant feels that you would benefit from radiotherapy then it is important that he contacts your ICD centre to discuss levels of treatment.
Radio frequency interference.
One area of electro-magnetic interference that may affect ICD’s is RF interference. However it is unlikely that most patients will come across sources of RF that will cause problems. One source that has been reported is that of remote radio controls for toy boats, planes etc. It is recommended that the control unit be kept well away from the ICD as there is a small possibility that it could trigger a shock.
Reassurance.
Remember that it is highly unlikely that anything will cause problems with your ICD. If you are concerned about anything at all, however silly you think it may be – call your local ICD centre.