Pacemaker and heated vests

[Igotrhythm]

Greetings all. It gets extremely cold in my part of Canada during the winter. Was hoping someone who is pacemaker wired -like I am - uses a heated vest with no repercussions. Other than being warm. Smile, breathe and go slow.

[Jabulani]

I have been wondering the same thing. Although I am still on the waiting list to see a heart specialist I don't want to buy one until I know if I might need a pacemaker or not.

[Igotrhythm in reply to Jabulani]

Thanks for your interest. I've searched our chum google extensively and manufacturers come close to saying "no worries" but just stop short of 100 per cent. Insurance worries I suspect. Best of luck with your heart health.

[Jabulani in reply to Igotrhythm]

Thanks so much. The one I am looking at is a far-infrared gilet but will have to wait until I see the Cardiologist.

[Crystalbowl]

I looked at a heated coat a few years’ ago but I think it had a warning in about not wearing it if you had a pacemaker so I didn’t buy it but would be interested to see if anyone has one. I lived in Canada for a few years and remember the winters there!

[Igotrhythm in reply to Crystalbowl]

Thanks for replying. I'm certain someone has experience with heated clothing. We'll wait and see.

[Chamberpot in reply to Igotrhythm]

Hi there! Just had a pacemaker fitted, and in the info I was given the only warnings were being six in’s away from Microwave ovens and try to keep 2 feet away from induction hobs. Why don’t you give your consultants Secretary a ring, then you would get an answer about heated clothing. I think it’s just magnets that upset the pacemaker, not electricity.

[Igotrhythm in reply to Chamberpot]

Your reply turned an idea lightbulb on for me. I have an electrical engineer friend that would understand everything to a much deeper level. I'm going to reach out to him. Thanks.

[Golfing2022]

I would also love to know the answer, living in Alberta the winters do get cold. I haven’t used my heated vest since getting my pacemaker & av note ablation maybe just being over cautious but better safe then sorry lol. Take care Les

[Igotrhythm in reply to Golfing2022]

Greetings Les. I'm getting closer to an answer. Will share my findings. On a different topic an AV nod ablation could be on the books in my future. The medication doesn't hold my heart rate low enough at times of stress. Feels like a fish flopping on the bottom of a boat but inside my chest - at times.

Did an AV nod ablation improve your quality of life??

Enjoy your day. Gary.

[Golfing2022 in reply to Igotrhythm]

Morning Gary in answer to to your question, the AV node ablation did improve my quality of life but took approx 3 months to notice difference. Wished it was done sooner but unlike you didn’t get flopping in stomach just uncontrolled heart rate jumping all over & tiredness but we are all different. If you have any questions I would be happy to try and answer—Les

[Igotrhythm in reply to Golfing2022]

Greetings Golfing22. Now have a heated vest and absolutely love the freedom it gives me. Doesn't effect or affect - take your choice - my pacemaker at all. I'm enjoying the outdoors again.

All the best to you. Gary.

[2learn]

Hi, I was told by my hospital that anything with a battery and electrical was a risk, iphones, electric cars, induction hobs , electric toothbrushes, etc, etc all have to be kept some distance away, induction hob about 3ft , iphone about a 1ft. Difficult to get a definitive list. Don't know how you're heated vest works.

My advice not medical just personal is wear as little as possible and try to get your body accustomed to the cold, then when you put a sweater on it makes a difference.

good luck

[Igotrhythm in reply to 2learn]

Thanks 2learnI got a similar list and have found out - through not thinking on my part and information from pacemaker friends - that the list is all inclusive and not very accurate. I suspect it's kind of like the may contain ingredients on food labels.

Thanks for your input. I'm getting closer to the answer. I'm a bit stubborn that way.

Kindest Regards. Gary.

[Blearyeyed]

They answered this question , as far as it was possible , on the BHF website.According to their recommendations they stated that many if the products including electric blankets , heated vests and heated motorbike jackets are deemed safe for use as far as manufacturers can assess. Boston Scientific has a list of equivalent products for use with pacemakers which is a PDF found online , their example , was a heated bike jacket that was tested safe.

The BHF advice was also to check with your pacing clinic for their view and to contact the manufacturer for their evidence. Obviously , no manufacturer can give a 100% guarantee that there would not be a problem for an individual because in most cases with products , and even some non cardiac related new medications , there will not have been research testing specifically for people with cardiovascular conditions or pacemakers.

Obviously all of these electrical products give out a minimal magnetic field which could , in theory , effect a ICD or pacemaker, but the level of output not at the scale that can occur from a working microwave or induction hob.

[Igotrhythm in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thanks for that information. Slowly accumulating a bunch of knowledge. Will have to start taking notes.

[GordonEdin]

Strictly from a general electrical point of view, any danger is more likely to come from equipment which intentionally emits radio signals or produces high power oscillating electric and magnetic fields. These signals might be detected by the pacemaker circuitry and upset its operation. (Though the pacemaker will have been designed to cope with the levels of signal expected in normal day to day life from properly designed and manufactured consumer electricals)

So, there might be some risk from things like mobile phones (these have to produce pulsed radio signals powerful enough to travel miles), microwave ovens (these are meant to cook things with radio waves inside a cavity - so even small leaks could be quite powerful), induction hobs (they are meant to force currents into pots and pans). Even with such devices, the level of interference will drop off rapidly with distance so you will probably be OK a few feet away.

A heated vest probably just uses a battery and resistive heating elements to produce heat. No need for oscillating fields. Not likely to interfere with other equipment. Even if the heating uses AC mains, that would be a low frequency sine wave and less likely to cause interference. One caveat is that modern electronics might be used to pulse the current to achieve fine control of the heating and that might result in some radio waves being generated - which by the nature of a vest would be close to the pacemaker.

So, my gut feeling is that you will be OK so long as you are talking about a simple heated vest without any complicated electronic controls.

However, don't take my ramblings as definitive advice! I can only suggest that you read the pacemaker and heated vest instructions and take whatever precautions that these recommend!

[Igotrhythm in reply to GordonEdin]

Thanks for your response. It's exactly what I wanted. The time and thought you put into it is most appreciated. Far from ramblings - as you suggested. I realized your thoughts are not engraved in stone. Only an opinion. I have ordered a heated vest about a week ago - mail order.

My plan is to hang it on a tree branch and turn it on and pass my compass across it and see if there is a magnetic field present that pulls the needle off of North.

I agree with you, I believe I can were it with no issues.

Thanks again. Gary.

[GordonEdin]

Best of luck.

I came across this article - which suggests that electric blankets and heated pads should be OK:

heart.org/en/health-topics/...

Also came across another much more technical article if you really want to delve into the subject.

ahajournals.org/doi/full/10...

Their summary statement was:

"The overall risk of clinically significant adverse events related to EMI in recipients of CIEDs is very low. Therefore, no special precautions are needed when household appliances are used. Environmental and industrial sources of EMI are relatively safe when the exposure time is limited and distance from the CIEDs is maximized. The risk of EMI-induced events is highest within the hospital environment. Physician awareness of the possible interactions and methods to minimize them is warranted"

[Igotrhythm in reply to GordonEdin]

Hi Gordon.

You have clearly but a lot of time into my problem.

I read the first site. Health.org and got a lot from it. Thanks for that.

The second site was a bit heavy for a cabinetmaker, carpenter. I'll take your word on that one. I know when to stay in my own lane.

I'm on meds to slow down my heart rate and control my AFib. The pacemaker picks the rate up to an optimum setting.

When I'm out in the cold my electrical system overrides the meds and my heart rate picks up to keep me warm but it becomes erratic and less efficient. I end up feeling colder.

I'm hoping a heated vest will be a game changer for me.

I'll let you know.

Thanks for your interest, compassion and knowledge.

Kindest Regards

Gary.

[Igotrhythm in reply to Igotrhythm]

Greetings to all that took the time to help me with the heated vest - CRT/D pacemaker question. I now own a heated vest and have used it 5 or 6 times. It's great. Has not bothered my heart rhythms or pacemaker. In fact I usually get cold and end up with palpitations but now I just enjoy the outdoors. Has improved my quality of life. Gordon. Special thanks to you for your pearls of wisdom, time and compassion. Means a lot to me.

All the best. Kindest Regards. Gary.

[Golfing2022]

Thanks Gary appreciate the information, I do have a heated vest but was scared to use after pacemaker but will now use again-Les