Why Your Cardiologist Might Tell You to Skip AirPods
A 2022 study found that magnetic fields from AirPods, iPhones, and other devices can interfere with pacemakers and defibrillators, prompting FDA recommendations to keep them at least 6 inches away.
Cardiologists have long warned about the risks that smartphones, headphones, and other consumer electronics pose to cardiovascular implantable devices (CIDs). The concern centers on magnetic fields, which can trigger a magnet-safe mode in defibrillators and pacemakers, potentially preventing them from detecting tachycardia or other arrhythmias. Modern CIDs are designed to switch into this mode near strong magnetic fields, such as during an MRI, and return to normal once the field is removed. However, even temporary disruption can have serious consequences.
CIDs typically activate magnet mode when exposed to a magnetic induction field of 10 Gauss or more. For reference, a typical fridge magnet emits around 100 Gauss. The proliferation of small rare-earth magnets in consumer devices has created new risks. A 2022 study published in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology found that the magnetic fields from Apple's AirPods, iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple Pencil, and Microsoft Surface Pen are strong enough to disrupt defibrillators, pacemakers, and other CIDs. Similar results have been observed with cell phones, smartwatches, and e-cigarettes.
These findings do not mean patients with heart conditions must avoid AirPods entirely. Apple recommends keeping AirPods and other electronic devices at least 6 inches (15 cm) away from the implant. This means, for example, not carrying a smartphone or AirPods in a front shirt pocket. The FDA advises patients to maintain this distance, consult their home monitoring system if concerned, and seek immediate medical attention if they experience dizziness, loss of consciousness, or other heart-related symptoms.
