For someone without a pacemaker, ICD or other implanted cardiac device, the FDA and American Heart Association guidance reviewed does not show that carrying a phone in a left shirt pocket affects the heart’s natural rhythm. The documented concern is different: a phone held close to an implanted device can interfere with some devices, so people with implants should keep phones at least six inches (15 centimeters) away and out of a pocket over the implant.
Why the advice depends on whether you have an implanted device
A phone in a shirt pocket is not established as a cause of heartbeat changes in people without an implanted cardiac device. The FDA and AHA phone-pocket precautions address possible interference with pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), not disruption of the natural heartbeat. The reviewed sources do not include a direct study of a phone in a left shirt pocket and the natural rhythm of people without implants, so the careful conclusion is that the evidence reviewed does not show an effect—not that an effect is impossible.
For a pacemaker or ICD user, proximity to the implant is the practical issue. FDA guidance says to keep consumer electronics such as phones and watches at least six inches (15 centimeters) from the device and not to carry them in a pocket over it. The AHA gives similar advice for phones and recommends avoiding a front chest pocket. Follow the instructions for your particular device and your clinician or device clinic’s advice if they differ. FDA guidance on magnets and implanted devices; AHA guidance on devices that may interfere with ICDs and pacemakers.
How phones can interfere with pacemakers or ICDs
Magnets near the implant
Some newer phones and watches contain magnets. A strong magnet close to certain implanted devices can activate a setting known as “magnet mode,” which may change the device’s operation. The FDA says its testing confirmed that this effect can occur. It characterized the patient risk as low and said it knew of no associated adverse events at the time of its notice. FDA: Magnets in Cell Phones and Smart Watches May Affect Pacemakers and Other Implanted Medical Devices.
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Radio transmissions are a separate concern
Phone transmissions and magnetic interference are not the same mechanism. The AHA describes the risk from phone transmissions as very small for ICDs and even smaller for pacemakers, while still advising six inches of separation. Separately, the FDA says the weight of scientific evidence has not linked cell-phone radio-frequency radiation with health problems. Its six-inch advice is a precaution for implanted devices, not evidence that ordinary phone radio-frequency exposure changes a person’s natural heartbeat. AHA device-interference guidance; FDA: Radio Frequency Radiation and Cell Phones.
What the iPhone 12 study does—and does not—show
An AHA report on a 2021 study said an iPhone 12 Pro Max caused interference in 11 of 14 tested pacemakers and ICDs when it was held directly over or near the devices. That is a result from a small, specific close-proximity test. It is not an estimate of how often interference happens during everyday phone use, and it does not establish the risk for every phone or implant. AHA report, June 2, 2021.
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In that report, Mark A. Estes, M.D., professor of medicine and director of the Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship Program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, said: “The American Heart Association and the manufacturers of pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators have long recommended that magnets be kept away from these implanted devices.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to carry a phone if you have a pacemaker or ICD
Keep the phone at least six inches (15 centimeters) from your implant and do not put it in a pocket directly over the device. A bag, trouser pocket or belt holster can help keep it away from a chest implant; these are practical placement options, not accessories specifically endorsed or tested by the FDA or AHA. If your device’s labeling or care team gives different instructions, follow those directions. Contact your clinician or device clinic with questions or if you have symptoms.
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