This post contains affiliate links.
Though they may appear complicated to use at first glance, induction stoves are great appliances that are quickly gaining popularity. However, if you or a loved one rely on a pacemaker, they may not be the safest option for your household.
Induction stoves may not be safe to use with a pacemaker. People with pacemakers are better off avoiding induction stoves. Only upon consulting your doctor and the pacemaker’s electromagnetic compatibility document should those with a pacemaker use induction cookware.
Suppose a pacemaker patient does use an induction stovetop. In that case, experts recommend maintaining a 2 ft (0.61m) distance from the stovetop to their pacemaker. Let’s get into why this is the case.
How Induction Stoves Interfere With Pacemakers
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) is why induction cooktops can be dangerous to pacemaker patients. The EMI of the induction stove’s EMF can affect a pacemaker in two main ways:
- EMI can mask the heartbeat from being read by the pacemaker.
- EMI can cause a false reading of the heartbeat to the pacemaker.
However, EMI cannot cause your pacemaker to turn off, reset the data, or do anything beyond interfering with the pacemaker sensing your heartbeat. As a result, the pacemaker can make decisions and affect your heart rate.
Anything that runs on batteries or is a corded electrical device will produce a tiny EMF and cause EMI. But this only happens when directly next to a pacemaker.
EMFs dissipate once the device generating them is moved away or shut off. Because of this, EMI is not an ongoing problem once the pacemaker is outside of the EMF.
Understanding Pacemakers and Induction Stoves
Pacemakers
A pacemaker is an implanted electrical device used to not only detect but also adjust an irregular rhythm of the patient’s heart. The heart also has an organic pacemaker which is how it can function naturally.
Pacemakers detect and emit electrical currents which travel through the rest of the heart. These electrical currents are what causes the heart to contract, pumping blood.
A pacemaker always monitors a patient’s heart rate but only makes corrections when needed. Newer pacemakers can detect motion and breathing rates and are Bluetooth-compatible, reducing the need for routine doctor visits.
Induction Stoves
Induction cookware operates by thermal induction instead of thermal conduction, the more common type of heating a pot or pan. Thermal conduction heats the pot or pan by burning a gas or hot electrical element.
Thermal induction creates an electromagnetic field (EMF) that sends the current that passes through a magnetic object, which results in it being heated up. For induction cooking, that object is the pot or pan.
A coil of copper wire inside the stove’s center generates the EMF.
Electromagnetism may cause you to think touching the pan would shock you. However, this is not the case. The electromagnetic force causes heat, not an electrical charge.
Electromagnetic Fields’ Effect on Pacemakers
As a pacemaker’s function is based on electricity, it can be influenced by electromagnetic fields or EMFs.
This effect differs from an electrical current running through a wire and a magnet just being magnetic. It’s actually more like a combination of both.
The electricity is attracted to magnetic objects but is not limited to just traveling through conductive wires. This is how an induction stove can interact with a pan through a glass cooktop.
The nature of an EMF is why you can place your hand directly on an induction stove set to high and not be burned. Since your hand is not magnetic, nothing happens.
Minimizing risk with Induction stoves
The primary way to safely use any induction cookware with a pacemaker is by maintaining distance. Most doctors recommend 2 ft (60 cm), which is about arm’s length.
The strength of the electromagnetic field increases with proximity to the induction stove. By maintaining the recommended distance and only getting close as needed, the risk is minimal.
As most pacemakers are implanted on the left side of the body, cooking with the right hand is also recommended to maintain distance.
Pacemakers measure the heart rate over time, and prolonged exposure is required to cause a faulty reading. With only intermittent exposure, there is not much to worry about because EMFs dissipate once the device generating them is moved away from or shut off.
Safe Alternatives to Induction Cooking
The two other main options for stovetops besides induction are gas and electricity. Both of them are entirely safe for patients with pacemakers because neither has any electronegativity.
Gas stoves are generally cheaper up-front, while electric stoves are more efficient on your utility bills. Most kitchens will have a gas hookup. Electric stoves require a 220-240v outlet.
How To Know if Your Pacemaker Will Be Affected by Induction Stove
If your pacemaker is Bluetooth compatible, you will likely be able to tell via the pacemaker’s app if there are any adverse effects on your pacemaker. Consult the reports given in the app and make a note of any abnormal readouts.
Also, pacemaker manufacturers are required by law to make documents about the effect of electromagnetics on their products. They are usually referred to as an “electromagnetic compatibility” document.
This document will either come with your pacemaker, be provided by your doctor, or be available online in .pdf format.
Your doctor will also be able to guide you on safely using an induction stove while having a pacemaker. Consulting with your doctor is often the best method.
If the elderly love to cook, you can easily make a stove safe for them. I’ve recommended eight ways of doing so in my other guide. Don’t miss it. How to Make a Stove Safe for the Elderly (8 Ways)
Final Thoughts
Suppose you or a loved one has a pacemaker and wish to use an induction stove. In that case, the first course of action should be to obtain the electromagnetic compatibility document for your specific pacemaker.
This can sometimes be done with a Google search but certainly by talking to your doctor.
After consulting the document or your doctor, maintaining a distance of two feet (0.61 m) and not hovering right over the stovetop will help.
Also, if your pacemaker has Bluetooth compatibility, it may report any adverse effects from EMI caused by the stovetop.
Tenuto Properties LLC dba Growing Gray USA is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We also participate in other affiliate programs which compensate us for referring traffic.