A group of researchers presented a study to the American Heart Association over the weekend in New Orleans and revealed that the tiny earbuds packed with MP3 players like the iPod may cause problems for folks with pacemakers and defibrillators. A quarter of the patients (14/60) in the study were affected when earbuds were placed within 1.2-inches of each device. Interference was twice as high in defibrillators as it was in pacemakers.
So what’s causing the issue?
First, eight models were tested that included clip-on and earbud types and it’s the magnets that mess with the electrical impulses sent by a pacemaker causing them to send beats no matter what. In defibrillators, the magnets could shutdown the devices ability to send the electrical shock necessary to keep the heart beating normally.
On the flipside, MP3 players themselves and cell phones with Bluetooth don’t interfere with the aforementioned devices. So the message here, folks, is that you keep your earbuds away from your chest because it doesn’t seem to interfere with your pumper when you’re using it the way it should be used.
I’ll remeber not to wear my earbuds on my tits someday when I need a heart ticker.
Great! Yet another consumer product with dangerous (deadly) effects. WhoCanWeSue.com?????
thanx 4 providing this information. I can c the hacking possibilities. Next time i want to kill someone I will keep it in mind.
Such devices are designed to be able to be overridden (usually by medical personnel in an emergency situation) by means of the field of a strong permanent magnet. A chain mail undershirt would take care of the problem….
I appreciate the information – The manufacturers tell P/D patients that the iPod and earbuds are to be no closer than 12 inches. Same for Cell phones, etc. The hardest thing is the store RFID theft detectors which can be triggered if you hang too long next to them.