[Boatanchors] slightly off topic (pacemakers)

[Richard Knoppow]

     A Google search found a fairly large number of 
scholarly papers on the influence of both ionizing and 
non-ionizing radiation on pacemakers.  My search was for 
"pacemakers and electromagnetic fields".  I suggest 
repeating the search. Be careful of the dates because some 
of the papers are quite old so data may no longer be valid.


--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
dickburk at ix.netcom.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Garey Barrell" <k4oah at mindspring.com>
To: "Tom Chesek" <tchesek at epix.net>; 
<Boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2012 7:48 AM
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] slightly off topic (pacemakers)


> Tom -
>
> I have had a Boston Scientific 'Implantable Cardiac 
> Defibrillator' for about four years, and had the
> same concerns you do.  I first spoke withtheir technical 
> support people, whose information seemed
> primarily related to CB operation.  The basic rule was 
> 100' from an antenna with 100W applied.
>
> My current situation is an attic dipole, ~40' long (length 
> of the attic!) fed with an LDG
> auto-tuner.  The operating position is directly under one 
> end of the dipole, so approximately 10'
> and one ceiling away.  I have run as much as 200W into 
> this combination on the five HF bands with no
> difficulty.  I must admit I had a 'moment' just before 
> pressing the key on each new band/frequency
> for a while!!  :-)
>
> They also suggested using the 'other' ear for cellphone 
> and/or HT use, but I've pretty much
> forgotten that rule.  I wouldn't intentionally hold a high 
> power HT directly over the implant, but ...
>
> As for the hacking problem, I've been told this device has 
> a 32 character password, and contact is
> made via a loop probe layed right over the implant.
>
> 73, Garey - K4OAH
> Glen Allen, VA
>
> Drake 2-B, 2-C/2-NT, 4-A, 4-B, C-Line
> and TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs
> <www.k4oah.com>
>
> Tom Chesek wrote:
>> I have atrial fibrillation and was told in the past that 
>> at some point I would need a pacemaker due to very slow 
>> heart rates.  Medication takes care of the fast rates. 
>> Does anyone on this list have experience in this area? 
>> Has you doctor told you to keep clear of electromagnetic 
>> waves, specifically radio waves?  My friend has a 
>> defibrillator and has been cautioned about things such as 
>> leaning over a running automobile engine, etc. due to 
>> electromagnetic fields but he is not a ham and did not 
>> pursue the conversation in with regards to anything else.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Tom K3TVC