14-Year Old Shows That iPad 2 May Interfere With Heart Implants

Interference of iPad 2 with Heart Implants

Apple iPads have become very popular and they can be seen everywhere. You would see almost every second person using the iPad, be it small school going children or adults, before going to bed. Have you even pondered how safe it is for such indiscriminate use? A young 14-year old researcher has conducted a study which proves that iPad 2 might interfere with implanted heart devices.

Gianna Chien, a high school freshman, from Lincoln High School in Stockton, California presented her research findings to about 8000 doctors at the Heart Rhythm Society’s Annual Scientific Sessions conference in Denver. Gianna Chien worked on the study with assistance from her father Dr. Walter Chien, a cardiologist with Central Valley Arrhythmia, California. The study was conducted on 26 patients and all of them had implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). Implantable cardioverter defibrillators are devices that help in controlling heart rhythm in patients who are at a risk of sudden cardiac death. Patients who have ICDs have irregular heart beat and the ICDs help in maintaining a normal rhythm by using electrical impulses. The ICDs have a safety feature wherein they are turned off by magnets.

For the study the 26 participants (with ICDs) were first asked to hold the iPad 2 at a reading distance. Next they were asked to keep the iPad 2 on their chest to mimic the act of falling asleep while reading something on the iPad.

It was observed that the magnet mode was triggered in 30% of the patients under study when they placed the iPad 2 on their chest. No interference was observed with four pacemakers and a loop recorder which were also part of the study. Two of the participants exhibited magnet mode trigger and another participant exhibited magnet mode trigger followed by a non-invasive program stimulation mode.

As a rule, most defibrillators turn back on once the magnet is removed from the vicinity. However, certain defibrillators remain off till the time the magnet is reapplied or the device is again turned on manually. Chien therefore suggests that patients should be made aware of the risks and the doctors should also check the defibrillators to ensure that they have not been turned off accidentally.

The study is very important in a way that it creates awareness about the danger of using the iPad 2 in a specific setting. However, this does not imply that patients with defibrillators should not use the iPad. The study only aims at cautioning them about the dangers associated with the device when the patient unknowingly sleeps with it.

Health Hazards Of Touch Screens And Tablets

Touch screens and tablets are becoming increasingly common. It is very easy to spot people using touch screens in the most dangerous ways – while driving, crossing the roads, and even while cooking. Most people are not even aware of the health hazards posed by these gizmos. Listed below are some of the health hazards posed by touch screens and tablets:

• Repeated motion injuries: Indiscriminate use of touch screens, tablets, and cellphones might result in repetitive stress injuries which are caused by constant movement of muscles, joints, tendons, and nerves. Constant use of thumb for text messaging might cause de Quervain syndrome, a painful condition involving the tendons that help in moving the thumb.

• Eyestrain: People who are exposed to too much of screen time run the risk of developing the computer vision syndrome, which is characterized by pain and redness in eyes and might even result in blurred or double vision and headaches. This is typically caused when you strain too hard to read what is written on the screen.
• Injuries caused by ergonomically awkward postures: People can also get injured because of bad postures adopted over prolonged periods of time. When you put too much pressure on your wrists while typing or keep your neck bent forward for a long time, you might hurt yourself. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common example of injury caused by bad posture. It is caused when people exert a lot of pressure on the median nerve in the wrist. Most touch screens and tablets require users to hold their devices in their hand. People tend to make use of awkward grips for holding their devices. This can have serious repercussions on neck and cervical spine.
• Exposure to radio frequency energy: Over-exposure to wireless technology in touch screen phones and tablets can harm your health. It is advised that you limit the time you spend on your touch screens and if required, avoid using it in the wireless mode.
• Health risk for children with brain shunts: A new study conducted by researchers at the Michigan University has found that the use of iPad 2 could present a health risk for children who have magnetically programmed brain shunts. As per the study, the magnets which hold the iPad’s cover in place can alter the valve settings of the shunts. When the iPad was held in close proximity to the head it was found to alter 58% of the valve settings. Brain shunts are commonly used for children who suffer from hydrocephalus. The brain shunts serve help in building up the fluid in the brain.
• Obesity: People who spend too much time using the touch screens and tablets tend to get addicted to these gadgets. Using these gadgets for long periods of time encourages inactivity. Spending time glued to the iPad and munching away unhealthy snacks promotes obesity. Children who are constantly using touch screen gadgets lose their enthusiasm to indulge in any form of physical activity. This encourages passivity in children and they tend to become aggressive. Physical activity is necessary for children in order to ensure a healthy growth of their brain cells.

Touch screens and tablets are wonderful gadgets but you need to use them judiciously in order to minimize their health impact due to prolonged use.