WiFiComputer Proximity

I am concerned that any closeness to a WiFi computer will cause interference with a pacemaker.(Which I have yet to have fitted) Is there a limit to how long a computer can be operated at a time. I am also concerned that my present condition, which has prompted my medics (my son included) to diagnose the condition for which they are recommending a pacemaker, has been caused or exacerbated by over frequent and prolonged close contact with a LAB TOP computer. (My name for it, it is too large to fit comfortably on the LAP) [Toshiba 750ODN] I should mention that I am retired and 6-8 hours a day is a regular stint. I am also 85 years old and no doubt my heart is not what it was even at 58 .I have searched the web but can find no reference to heart impulse conduction and the effect of electromagnetic radiation. However my logic is if it can affect a pacemaker what does it do to the electrical conduction element of natural heart function?? Another item for thought, are computers involved in an increase in heart problems?? Geoff.Newall Retired Pharamcist

4 Comments

It takes one.....

by donr - 2015-06-20 02:06:42

.....heckuva electromagnetic field to affect a PM. It takes an even stronger field to affect the human body.

The PM is hermetically sealed in a Titanium can, effe3ctively shielding the digital electronic guts of the PM from EM interference. The leads are coaxial cables w/ the outer conductor woven tightly to shield the inner conductor from interference. the connections are likewise sealed or make superb contact to shield the signal carrying wires.

Further, look in the manual that comes w/ your computer - there is an entire section that proclaims how well the device complies w/ EM interference rules of danged near every nation on earth, Australia, included. My wife has a Toshiba lap top. It has all that verbiage in it. 6-8 hrs per day - you are a piker. There are people who spend longer than that w/o ill effect - especially those w/o PM's. People who work around Cray supercomputers that operate super fast - so fast that it would make your Toshiba look like a hard-hat diver wearing lead boots while walking on the bottom of the sea. They get exposed to stray EM fields much higher in frequency than you ever see w/o ill effect. Look at the amount of energy it takes in a microwave oven to cook food - multi hundreds of watts.

If there is a part of the body that you should be afraid will be harmed by EM fields, it is the eyeball. The fluid in there is akin to the white of an egg, which can be congealed rather easily by it. If your eyeballs are not affected, I doubt that your heart is.

For4 some god reading for your spare time, go to:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_radiation_and_health

It talks about the harmful effects of every band of EM radiation. BTW: Your computer probably has a clock speed of 1-4 gigahertz (1-4 Ghz) at power levels escaping the computer measured in micro watts or nano watts - waaaaaaay below dangerous levels, which are measured in a whole bunch of milli watts.

I'd say you have a "Not to worry" situation on your hands & a couple medics that are not savvy on EM safey issues.

Benchmark for your safety: Do you or have you had cataracts? That is probably the first part of the body to suffer ill effect from long term exposure to low levels of EM energy.

Donr (Electrical engineer)

donr is correct

by Theknotguy - 2015-06-20 03:06:33

Donr is correct. In addition there is some speculation the WiFi on the pacemaker isn't "on" until the donut shaped magnet is dropped over the pacemaker. With the WiFi off, it doesn't matter how strong the signal is, the pacemaker won't pick it up. A radio you have in the house when it is turned off doesn't pick up static or make noises when a thunderstorm goes by. And a thunderstorm has millions of volts of electrical energy.

While there is speculation in some areas that increased exposure to RF causes more problems, no one has been able to prove anything. We'd have a lot more electronics people walking around with problems from RF exposure.

I did computer repair for 35 years. Worked around open machines with stuff all over the RF spectrum. No problems.

Unfortunately I did track in my Father's footsteps as far as heart problems and sleep apnea goes. That also goes for the side of my family that had the majority of heart problems. I can look at their heart history and predict mine. What is different is we have much better medical treatment than they did. So you'll occasionally see me say my grandparents swam in the wrong gene pool.

What people do discount is the advances in medical science. The medical equipment is so good we are able to detect problems sooner. Our pharmacy of drugs are able to help better. The amount of knowledge about medical problems has increased geometrically many times. If we were living under 1950's style of medicine, I'd be dead. If I wasn't in the USA, I'd be dead. Simply because the doctors wouldn't have had the equipment, pharmacy of drugs, and knowledge to keep me alive. Nor would we have had skilled EMT people to provide on-the-spot high quality medical help.

So when you think RF and WiFi are causing problems Id' say like I told the confused coon hound, you're barking up the wrong tree.

Theknotguy ?

by IAN MC - 2015-06-20 05:06:34

Could you explain your statement " If I wasn't in the USA , I'd be dead "

I see the original poster is from Western Australia , I am from the UK ; why would we be dead with your medical history and you wouldn't ??

Ian

Health Care Delivery

by TICKYTICKBOO - 2015-06-20 07:06:28

Ian brings up a valid point. The U.S.A. in my opinion should be ashamed of their Health Care Delivery System America is a very rich country, yet until just recently health care was not financially available to many citizens. For a large wealthy country to not have a system that delivers care to all citizens is in my opinion ridiculous.

In my opinion there has been improvement since the changes President Obama has spearheaded, however, much still needs to be done.

I almost died because the doctor's ignored my symptoms, gee I am female, I did not present the same way a man would if he were having a heart attack, gee, female, must be a hormonal problem, send her home from the ER as just having a hot flash. Oh, never mind what the EMT's are telling us about her heart stopping, Oh, the EKG Strip shows a flat line, it must have been a problem with the machine, those EMT's LIE, Lie, lie about the condition of their client. Dumb EMT's...

I just about croaked because I am female and had a heart attack in the USA. Many women die in the USA because most hospitals look for men having heart attacks and know the signs of a male having a heart attack, women tend to present differently and we are too often ignored! Or worse yet sent home with a lecture, not to come back to ER when we deem something is seriously wrong.

In Canada, I have received excellent care as have my children. Yes, I know the difference in excellent care and mediocre or down right dangerous medical practices.

We all want to think our Government provides the "Best Care" possible, however that is not true. Look at the stats on how U.S. medical care compares to the rest of the developing countries, look at how many new born babies die yearly compared to other developed countries.

You know you're wired when...

You know the difference between hardware and software.

Member Quotes

As for my pacemaker (almost 7 years old) I like to think of it in the terms of the old Timex commercial - takes a licking and keeps on ticking.