A 41-year-old male asked:
what is a safe distance to stay from an electric transformer for a pacemaker patient, also a cellular communication tower?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

Dr. Bennett Werneranswered
Cardiology 44 years experience
Engineer: I suggest you contact the engineering department of the company that made the particular brand pacemaker you're concerned about - they will need to know the approximate wattage of the transformer (home use versus industrial). Regarding cell towers, i suspect that there is no risk unless the person is a repairman and working in immediate proximity.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Similar questions
CA
A 27-year-old member asked:
Can an electrical storm have any effect on pacemakers?
2 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in

Dr. Mark Sternanswered
Cardiology 46 years experience
No: No, not unless the person with the pacemaker is actually struck by lightning.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
CA
A 38-year-old member asked:
Can someone recycle a pacemaker?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

Dr. Sheldon Brownsteinanswered
Specializes in Cardiac Electrophysiology
Recycle: Pacemaker recycle programs are available in some countries but not in the USA
860 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
CA
A 24-year-old member asked:
How can pacemakers be programmed?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

Dr. Mark Sternanswered
Cardiology 46 years experience
With a special box: Each manufacturer of pacemakers makes their own device that communicates with it by radio waves and can get reports from it and can give it instructions.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
CA
A 27-year-old member asked:
How long can a person live with pacemaker?
2 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in

Dr. Mark Sternanswered
Cardiology 46 years experience
No limit: If they keep replacing the units when the battery is low it will not limit life expectancy.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
What materials are pacemakers made out of?
2 doctor answers • 10 doctors weighed in

Dr. Louis Grenzeranswered
Cardiology 55 years experience
Several things: The case is made of titanium, the batteries are lithium, /iodine cells, the electrodes are thin insulated wires, and the circuit boards contain resistors, diodes, capacitors, and semiconductors. The circuit boards function like a small EKG machine sensing spontaneous heart beats and if the heart does not beat, they send a small shock down the wires to make it beat.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
Last updated Dec 24, 2013
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