Curious

Hi i am posting these messages for my grandfather because he just recently had a pacemaker put in and we have a lot of questions but one in particular he's been working for the city for forty years and they want him to now just cut grass and weedeat and chainsaw is he even allowed to do that i searched all over the net and no indefinite answer maybe somone can help me please respond back thanks greatly appreciated

2 Comments

Pacemaker Questions

by SMITTY - 2010-01-14 09:01:24


Hello,

First let me say the best place for answers to this question is his doctor because if he has been working for 40 years, to me that says he is old enough to possibly have other health issues that may preclude his doing such work. However, if his only concern is whether the tools he will be using for this work will harm his pacemaker I think that that is most unlikely.

Earlier today some asked a similar question. While that question was specifically about using a chain saw, my answer would be the same if asked about using chain saw as well as a lawn mower or weed trimmer. I have posted that answer below with the hope it may help. I will add our pacemakers are not as fragile as we are sometimes lead to believe. The one thing, I know of that we don't want to happen is get a hard lick or blow directly on the implant site. The blow is not likely to harm the pacemaker but the leads going from it to the heart could be damaged and it will most certainly be painful.

"A risk from using a chin saw, be it gasoline or electric, is real, but it does not exist for most of us.

The problem comes form any electrical source in the form of the electromagnetic field generated by the ignition system. While it is a small EMF, there is the possibility of it interfering with the operation of the pacemaker, however if you keep the motor at least 6" from your pacemaker there will be no harm.

As the time goes by you will hear more and more "don't do" for your pacemaker. They tell us these things because I guess there may be about one chance in a big, big number of the pacemaker being affected. To me it is a case of since they don't know, jut say "don't" and they will have both hands over there hind end in the event somebody does have a problem.

I'm not pacemaker dependant so I never worry about anything affecting my pacemaker. If I get in to a strong EMF, or too close to magnet, I'm sure I'll feel the effects the same as I do when they put the magnet over my pacemaker during a checkup. In which case I would move away from that area, or item, and expect my pacemaker to return to normal operation with no harm done.

There is one other thing you may need to take into consideration. Most pacemakers being implanted today have a rate response feature. Not all have this feature turned on, but if yours is on, then the vibration from the saw will probably cause the rate response to increase your heart rate. I have an electric chain saw and I was getting enough vibration out of it to activate my rate response, until I had the sensitivity turned down. Just sawing off a 4" limb would cause my heart rate to jump up to 120+ and I don't need that.

So, I say use the chain saw and don't worry about the EMF from it bothering your pacemaker."

I wish your father the best,

Smitty

see the 4th post below yours

by ccmoore - 2010-01-15 07:01:32

The 4th post below yours has chain saw comment.
Also click on the search button in the upper right hand corner and search on chain saw, etc. lots of comments to read.

Later,
Charlie

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Member Quotes

I am 100% pacemaker dependant and have been all my life. I try not to think about how a little metal box keeps me alive - it would drive me crazy. So I lead a very active life.