AFP - 2 hours 24 minutes
ago
WASHINGTON (AFP) - - MP3 player headphones placed within an inch
of pacemakers or implantable defibrillators may interfere with the
operation of the lifesaving cardiac devices, as study has
found.
Research found that neodymium, a magnetic substance contained in
the MP3 player headphones, appears to impede proper functioning of
the technology, posing a potential grave risk to patients who rely
on the devices.
"Exposure of a defibrillator to the headphones can temporarily
deactivate the defibrillator," said William Maisel, senior author
of the study and director of the Medical Device Safety Institute at
Beth Israel Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts.
The study, presented at an American Heart Association
conference, concluded that in order to be operated safely,
headphones accompanying the popular MP3 digital music players must
be at least 1.2 inches (3 centimeters) from the implanted
devices.
Scientists said patients using heart devices should not place
MP3 player headphones in their pocket or drape them over their
chest.
"For family members or friends of patients with implantable
defibrillators," said Maisel, "they should avoid wearing headphones
and resting their head right on top of someone's device."
Maisel and his research team determined that outside studies
have found no adverse reactions to pacemakers and defibrillators
from other portable electronic devices like iPods, Bluetooth
headsets, iPhones, electric blankets or hand-held airport metal
detectors.