| One advice that a doctor will give you when you | | | | pacemaker works. |
| receive a pacemaker is to be careful of certain | | | | Heavy duty electrical equipment like car engine, certain |
| electrical appliances and devices, especially those that | | | | electrically-powered surgical tool and arc welders can |
| emit charges. But can outside electrical source | | | | cause disturbance in proper functioning of a |
| interfere with your pacemaker? Unfortunately yes and | | | | pacemaker. If you want to drive a car or operate an |
| these electrical sources can be detrimental and | | | | electrically-powered equipment, make sure you first |
| sometimes fatal. | | | | get permission from your doctor. Just to let you know |
| MRI, also known as magnetic resonance imaging, is a | | | | that driving a car should not pose a problem but you |
| type of scan that is used to study images of the brain, | | | | should not lean over a running car engine. |
| liver, spine, joints and other organs. This machine gives | | | | Metal detectors installed at airports can cause problem |
| out a strong magnetic field which interferes with the | | | | with proper functioning of a pacemaker. Make sure |
| proper functioning of a pacemaker. Therefore, patients | | | | you carry your pacemaker ID card, which you will be |
| with pacemakers should not have an MRI scan. | | | | given when the pacemaker is implanted, and show the |
| Doctors will also warn you about mobile phones. Make | | | | same to security officers at the airport. In addition, the |
| sure you do not carry your mobile phone in your chest | | | | hand-held security wand can also interfere with proper |
| pocket and when speaking, hold it on the ear that is on | | | | working of a pacemaker. If possible you should avoid |
| the opposite side of the pacemaker. Mobile phones | | | | being scanned by these wands. |
| give out rays that can interfere with the way a | | | | |