(November 9, 2008)—People with pacemakers or other heart devices should be careful with headphones from portable music players such as iPods, a new study suggests.
The study presented at an American Heart Association conference finds that some headphones can interfere with heart devices if held very close to the devices.
Doctors who tested the headphones say they might even prevent a defibrillator from delivering a lifesaving shock.
The study's leader says some headphones contain very powerful magnets, which could interfere with heart devices, but Dr. William Maisel of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston also says people shouldn't overreact.
He said it's smart to keep small electronics at least a few inches from implanted medical devices, and not let someone wearing headphones lean against your chest if you have one.
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