Health Tip: Some Devices May Cause Pacemaker Problems

(HealthDay News) -- A pacemaker is a small implanted device that helps stabilize an irregular heartbeat.

The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says people with a pacemaker should avoid devices with strong magnetic fields that could interfere with a pacemaker's operation. Examples include:

• MP3 music players and cellular phones.
• Home appliances, such as a microwave oven.
• High-tension electrical wires.
• Electrical generators or metal detectors.
• Industrial welding machines.