Smart Watches and ICD/Pacemakers

[Bruce67]

Just seen some online articles warning about potential interference but smart watches on icd/pacemakers.

I haven't been warned about this by any medical staff at any point, only about the usual with mobile phones and scanners at airports etc.

Anyone been advised to avoid smart watches or have any input on this?

For now I have removed my shiny ( newish ) smart watch I got especially to help track sleep, steps and a few other things...and will ring my pacing clinic in " office hours" as they can do/tell me nothing in the out of hours time period, despite supposedly offering an out of hours service!

[Lowerfield_no_more]

It. Is my understanding that a powerful electromagnetic field might interfere with an icd/ pacemaker and so they are to be avoided. A typical device in the home that might do that is an induction hob. However if there is any field associated with a smart watch it is likely to be extremely small and since they are normally worn on the wrist away from the icd site it's effect will be virtually undetectable. So unless someone comes up with an alternative view that is based on reliable evidence, in which case I stand to be corrected, I suggest you can wear your shiny smart watch without any further concern.

[Bruce67 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Actually I just like looked up some FAQ from my hospital trust on a leaflet about my ICD and they say it's fine to wear smart watch, apple watch and the like, and it won't interfere with my ICD...so it's back on my wrist.

[56dick19 in reply to Bruce67]

Hi I a ICD and have a Apple Watch this is my third one Iv never been told it could interfere with it

[Nomis21]

I was at the pacing clinic last Friday gone and the technician asked if I had a smart watch to track my HR activity which was needed after she made some adjustments to see how my PM responded upon physical exertion, I did have Google pixel watch in the past but my GP told me to get rid of it which I think she thought was raising my anxiety levels rather than a interference issue with my PM.

On this occasion I used my phone camera lens to get my HR readings which I fed back to the pacing clinic (no ideas how accurate they are)

There is an article on the BHF website about implanted devices and smart watches, may be worth a read.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[Alixia]

I use an Apple Watch with no problems/interference.