# what are some ways that a pacemaker could fail...
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-ways-that-a-pacemaker-could-fail/211374
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 4, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-ways-that-a-pacemaker-could-fail/211374 "2003-11-04T17:13:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Sarah23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarah23)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-ways-that-a-pacemaker-could-fail/211374/1 "2003-11-04T17:13:07Z")
…in an otherwise young and healthy person (assuming the batteries had been checked, etc.)?
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### Author:  [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2003, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-ways-that-a-pacemaker-could-fail/211374/2 "2003-11-04T17:18:52Z")
IANAD, but I would imagine software issues could be a problem. AFAIK, pacemakers are operated by a small computer chip and program, which regulates the function of the pacemaker. If the software (or hardware) was to crash, for some reason or other, then that could kill the pacemaker.
I suppose some sort of disconnection of a component, if the patient were to move or bump or injure themselves in a very odd way, could also disable the pacemaker, or at least shift the wiring or components such that it is ineffective in its purpose.
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### Author:  [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2003, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-ways-that-a-pacemaker-could-fail/211374/3 "2003-11-04T17:22:22Z")
Don’t go making or receiving any cell phone calls !!!
(Right, everybody? Right?)
While you’re at it, don’t let your pacemaker intersect any cell antennas’ signals, which are already crisscrossing most metropolitan areas.
Don’t fly a kite in a lightning storm, either.
Wait a minute…
Why would a healthy person need a pacemaker?
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### Author:  [@Sarah23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarah23)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-ways-that-a-pacemaker-could-fail/211374/4 "2003-11-04T17:39:50Z")
Why would a healthy person need a pacemaker? \*\*
[/QUOTE]
Person with a congenital defect (a “block” or irregular heartbeat) but otherwise healthy (no illnesses or diseases or symptoms).
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### Author:  [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2003, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-ways-that-a-pacemaker-could-fail/211374/5 "2003-11-04T17:40:58Z")
Metal detectors **could** cause a pacemaker to malfunction. I used to work for a pediatric cardiology division, and one day someone called me from a school, talking about how a patient of ours had been “wanded”, and since then had been complaining about not feeling well. According to the doctor I spoke with, yes this can be a big problem, and he had the patient come in so they could recalibrate the device. He had me type out a letter for the school, warning them to not use a metal detector on this patient.
Cite: [http://www.appc1.va.gov/vasafety/docs/Metal-detctr.doc](http://www.appc1.va.gov/vasafety/docs/Metal-detctr.doc) (sorry, .doc file)
There is some [evidence](http://cardiology.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2003/725/1) that the gate-style detectors do not present a risk, but considering the low rate of incidents in the first link I gave, the 200 pacemakers checked might have been too low of a sample size to show any events. It might also vary by detector brand/age, and wand-style detectors were not tested.
The [American Heart Association](http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=24) has a list of what devices do not present a risk, and which **might** be risky.
I’m assuming the OP meant “otherwise healthy” but I can’t think of why age or other illnesses/conditions might interfere with a pacemaker’s functioning.