Editor’s Note: Doug Rachac found out that he himself needed an ICD while employed by device manufacturer Medtronic. He now uses his personal experiences to help other device patients learn how to live happily with their implantable devices.
When cardiac patients receive a pacemaker or defibrillator, they often have questions about their new “friend.” They wonder if this new device has limitations, and what those limitations might be.
And they may find that the internet can be, at the same time, both helpful and misleading. Accurate information is out there, but separating truth from fiction is the hard part. To learn the truth, patients turn to their doctors, nurses and clinic device techs for answers, not realizing that sometimes these professionals also give advice based on outdated or incorrect information.
When a patient wants to know if it is safe to scuba dive with their heart condition, they should ask their physician. However, if they want to know how deep it is safe for them to dive with their specific implanted device, instead of asking their physician, they should instead direct their question to the engineers of the device manufacturer who designed and tested the device.
Patients should speak with their doctor to learn if their health condition limits them from certain physical activities (such as scuba diving), but questions about the limitations or capabilities of devices and leads should usually first be directed to the manufacturer of the device – the best source of up-to-date, accurate information. Whenever I am looking for up to date, accurate information about my device, I start with Medtronic, the manufacturer of my implanted device.
Patients can easily find the make and model of their device, as well as learn how to contact their device manufacturer, by calling the Patient Services number located on their Patient ID card.
In this blog article, I’d like to share with you some information regarding two of the most common misconceptions relating to implantable devices out there: 1) magnets are dangerous to implanted devices like pacemakers and defibrillators; and 2) it is unsafe to walk through airport/venue security.
All of the information I discuss below can be found, if you dig deep enough, on each specific manufacturer’s websites.
Magnets: Should We Be Afraid?
All companies advise patients to keep magnets at least 6-8 inches away from their devices for their safety. But the simple answer to the question is NO! You do not need to be afraid of magnets. However, you do need to be aware of how a magnet interacts with your device when you come into contact with one.
A magnet will NOT:
- Scramble the device programming
- Turn the device off
- Turn off pacing
- Damage the device in any way
These common misconceptions are based on devices that are over 10 years old, or are based on a misunderstanding of the truth. In most industry devices a magnet will interact with a pacemaker and defibrillator in the following ways:
Pacemaker or Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Pacemaker (CRT-P):
A magnet placed on or near a pacemaker/CRT-P device will force the device to pace at a constant, preset rate. Different companies have different preset rates. Medtronic is set to pace 100% of the time at 85 beats per minute (BPM). When the magnet is moved away from the device, the device will immediately revert back to the programming that was input by the doctor or device tech at implant, or that was modified during a subsequent interrogation session.
Defibrillator or Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Defibrillator (CRT-D):
In most industry devices, a magnet will “inhibit detection” which is a fancy way of saying the device won’t shock you if needed. Once the magnet is removed, the shock function reverts back to normal.
This function is a normal design feature of the devices designed for use by clinicians and doctors. In both types of devices, a magnet will in no way harm the device or alter the programming. The effect of the magnet is only temporary. Once the magnet is moved 6-8 inches away from the device, the device’s normal programming will resume. Some everyday items such as iPad covers, purses, and children’s toys may contain magnets which are strong enough to trigger the magnet response in our devices. However, simply moving those items 6-8 inches away from your device will resolve the issue. Remember, even if you do encounter a strong magnet or magnetic field, it will not harm your device in any way. Simply move away from the magnet/magnetic field and your device will return to its normal operations.
Let me reiterate: a magnet will in no way harm your device, shut it off, or alter the programming.
Airport/Venue Security:
There was a time when walking through airport or venue security with an implanted device was considered dangerous. This was back when our devices included an electrical component called a Reed Switch. But, over a decade ago, devices evolved after safety issues forced industry to eliminate the Reed Switch in all implanted devices. At the same time, a new international standard emerged setting limits for how much magnetic energy an implanted device needed to be able to withstand. The level is high enough that most forms of magnetic energy encountered in our daily lives are insufficient to interact with our devices in any meaningful way. There are a few exceptions, such as the electromagnetic energy generated by a hydroelectric dam. But, airport archways and hand wands do not generate that level of energy. Companies like Medtronic simply suggest that a patient walk through the airport archway at a normal pace, and that wands are not waved repeatedly over the device multiple times. Aside from those precautions, patients do not need to avoid airport or venue security in any way. Millimeter wave scanners (the one that rotates around you) are also safe to use.
Let me say it again: Pacemaker/ICD/CRT patients do not need to fear airport/venue security checkpoints. Simply walk through the archway at a normal pace, and ask that wands not be waved back and forth over the device repeatedly.
Living with our devices can be stressful enough. It’s my belief that having accurate information is the first step in being able to live the life we want to live, not the life we think we are now forced to live.
My physician was clear when he said, “Your device is there to protect you and allow you to live your life. It is not there to restrict you in any way.”
It’s time to dispel the information of old, and to start living our lives without these old fears. Our devices have evolved over the years so we need not fear magnets or security lines any more. If you would like to learn more about me and living with an implantable device, I have uploaded several videos to my YouTube Channel. You can find specifically about devices, magnetic fields and airport security here.
About Doug Rachac:
Doug Rachac received his implanted Medtronic defibrillator in 2014 due to several episodes of syncope and documented non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. He spent 14 years working for Medtronic, where he worked in multiple areas, including Customer Service, Education, and Quality. He left Medtronic in 2015 to recover, volunteer and to be the world’s best stay-at-home dad. He now advocates for device patients and consults with the medical device industry on patient engagement and patient focused initiatives. You can find him on Twitter @HankEPants.
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That early study found no issues when patients implanted with ICDs and/or pacemakers drove a 2012 Toyota Prius hybrid at 30 mph, 60 mph and at variable speeds of acceleration and deceleration, as well as sitting in the driver’s seat, the front passenger seat, the left and right rear seats and in front of and behind the car from the outside. Although the researchers found that the implantable devices were exposed to electromagnetic fields inside the car, the amount of interference wasn’t significant enough to cause problems with the devices.
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