Magnetic fields from the iPhone 12 and 13 may interfere with the operation of pacemakers and defibrillators. As a result, Apple has advised its customers to maintain a safe distance between their smartphones and these implanted devices. This advice also applies to other devices such as tablets, laptops, smartwatches, and wireless headphones.
**Safe Distance**
Apple has placed a strong magnetic ring on the back of the new iPhones, generating fairly strong magnetic fields in the area near the smartphone. American doctors have discovered that these fields can potentially disrupt pacemakers or defibrillators during emergencies, recommending a safe distance of at least 15 centimeters, in accordance with the guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Professor Philipp Zimmer, a cardiologist in Bochum, Germany, explained that the magnetic field is very strong within a small range around the device. He added, "For interference to occur, the smartphone must be placed directly over the area where the pacemaker or defibrillator is implanted."
German cardiologists Philipp Lacour and Florian Blaschek confirm in their study published in November 2021, after testing all available cardiac implants with magnetic fields emitted by iPhones, that when an iPhone 12 was placed as close as possible to a pacemaker or defibrillator, about half of the implanted devices showed some effect. These effects occurred only with very small distances between the magnetic rings and the devices. The German doctors stated that there is no issue when holding the smartphone in front of the chest or making a call on the side where the device is implanted.
**Device Impact**
For patients to be in a safe position, they should check the effect of smartphones on their implanted cardiac devices with a cardiologist. This raises the question of how the device is affected. Dr. Philipp Lacour noted that it manifests as an increase in frequency in pacemakers, while defibrillators temporarily lose their ability to terminate arrhythmias. Once the magnetic field is removed, the device automatically resumes its function.
Dr. Florian Blaschek added, "There is an extremely low probability of something happening during the brief interruption of the defibrillator's function," while a patient may experience serious heart rhythm disturbances at that moment.
In general, smartphones should not be placed on areas of the skin where implanted devices are located, in addition to avoiding placing the smartphone in a shirt pocket.
