Could Your Smart Watch Interfere with Your Pacemaker?

A new study warns that smartwatches and other wellness trackers have the potential to interfere with pacemakers. Researchers say the sensing technology that trackers use to monitor heart rate, blood pressure, and other vital signs emits electrical levels that could cause pacing interruptions or unnecessary shocks to the heart.

The researchers tested smartwatches, smart scales, and smart rings in anatomic human models using the same sensing technology. They found that it sometimes generated electrical voltage that exceeded FDA-accepted guidelines and interfered with the proper function of the implantable cardiac devices. The level of interference was greater with the smartwatches than with the smart scales and smart rings.

The lead investigator says these findings do not mean patients who wear trackers face an immediate or clear risk, but they do indicate a need to test more devices alone and in patients. People with pacemakers are already warned about the potential for interference with other electronics, including mobile phones.