Why I Researched if PEMF is Safe if You Have A Pacemaker.
Background
I am glad to share the results of my research on whether is PEMF safe if you have a pacemaker. But, before I do, I will tell you why I did the research.
My ninety-year-old father came to visit me for a few weeks and during his stay, he complained about his sore back. So, without thinking I set up my PEMF chair mat and had him do 20 min sessions twice a day for a couple of days.
Then my wife asked me if it this safe because he has a pacemaker. I totally forgot that he had a pacemaker, and it was working 100% of the time according to his doctor. Fortunately, he did not have any issues, so I looked on the manufacturer web site and they recommended that pacemaker patients not use their PEMF mat.
So, I decided to turn off the PEMF feature of the mat and use the heat and negative ion therapy and he said that it really helped his back pain. Fortunately, I purchase a mat with more than one therapy. Here is the mat I have and highly recommend it. https://perfectpemf.com/pemf-therapy-mat-chair/
I Began Questioning
Is PEMF really harmful?
And I wondered if is PEMF really harmful to people with a pacemaker. Did I do the wrong thing? Did I endanger his life? He didn’t have any issues. Thankfully. So, at the end of the month, my dad uploaded his monthly monitoring data and his doctor said that everything was working as it should.
That got me thinking about why the manufacturer said not to use it if you have a pacemaker. Were they just trying to be over-cautious to avoid lawsuits? Or were there some potential issues using a PEMF?
My Research
Is PEMF harmful or are manufacturers just being cautious?
In the research I have done, I found articles that said that PEMF is harmful to patients who use pacemakers, and other reports said just the opposite. Here is an article by the Heart Association that you might find interesting. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/arrhythmia/prevention–treatment-of-arrhythmia/devices-that-may-interfere-with-icds-and-pacemakers#:~:text=In%20general%2C%20consumer%20appliances%20and,regular%20signals%20are%20quickly%20restored.
Some people said that PEMF therapy is safe for people with metal implants. In some cases, a treatment protocol may be modified to accommodate the presence of certain devices such as pacemakers or artificial joints. As always, we recommend that you consult with your doctor before beginning any new therapy and obtain clearance from him/her if necessary.
They said that PEMF therapy is a safe and effective modality that doctors and patients recommend worldwide. The use of this pain relief treatment has resulted in dramatic enhancement in the quality of life for millions of patients who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, neuropathy, fibromyalgia, cancer pain, back and neck pain, whiplash, sports injuries, and many other chronic conditions caused by inflammation and injury to soft tissues.
Here is a study stating that PEMF does not affect pacemakers: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16607622. The study tested 15 pacemakers. They concluded that the PEMF therapy system did not interfere with implantable cardiac devices with bipolar electrode configuration. However, unipolar electrode configuration in pacemakers seems to be potentially hazardous during the application of the PEMF therapy system. So, it sounds like one particular implementation is problematic for pacemaker users.
Here is the opinion of one expert on PEMF therapy:https://www.pemft.com/Pacemakers-in-pemf-therapy. He states that a pacemaker can be tested by putting a strong magnet on the patient’s chest to test if the device is working properly. In the real world, there are numerous conditions where people are subjected to strong magnetic
Another expert, Dr. William Pawluk, opinion is that using a PEMF can be safe. Most devices are low-power and will not affect the implanted pacemaker. You can read his article here:https://www.drpawluk.com/faq/can-pemf-devices-be-used-with-stimulators/
Pacemaker manufactures may have cautions about using PEMF. It would be wise to research your model on the manufacturer’s website. For example, Medtronic does not recommend PEMF use – https://www.medtronic.com/content/dam/medtronic-com/01_crhf/cc/pdfs/emc_pt_brochure_f.pdf
Also, PEMF manufacturers may also have recommendations. I suggest that you research each PEMF manufacturer’s stance on using their device with pacemakers. For example, Healthyline recommends that pacemaker users do not use their PEMF devices if they have a pacemaker. https://healthyline.com/cautions/
Conclusion
Is PEMF safe if you have a pacemaker?
Once you have done your research, I suggest you have a conversation with your doctor. Armed with the knowledge you have gained in your research and the experience of your medical doctor; I am sure you can come to a good decision if PEMF therapy will be a good option for you.
And if your decision is not to use PEMF therapy, it is not the end of the world. You can find a PEMF mat that you can turn the PEMF treatment off when the person with the pacemaker is using it. This is the mat I use that has this feature. https://perfectpemf.com/pemf-therapy-mat-chair/