EP428: AIR Induction Cooktops

Welcome to my podcast. I am Doctor Warrick Bishop, and I want to help you to live as well as possible for as long as possible. I’m a practising cardiologist, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and the creator of The Healthy Heart Network. I have over 20 years as a specialist cardiologist and a private practice of over 10,000 patients. Podcast Episode Summary Introduction: Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, author, and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, hosts this episode featuring an interview with journalist Silas from Illawarra ABC. The discussion centers on the safety concerns regarding induction cooktops and their potential electromagnetic interference with pacemakers and defibrillator devices, a topic that arose when a local region proposed transitioning to 100% electric cooking. Key Takeaways: Induction cooktops generate oscillating magnetic fields to create heat, which can potentially interfere with implantable pacemaker and defibrillator devices that are sensitive to magnetic fields. There are no recorded deaths from induction cooktop interference with pacemakers, though interactions have occurred and can trigger a "safe mode" where the device continues functioning but suspends normal sensing capabilities. No blanket recommendation exists from major medical societies worldwide advising pacemaker patients to avoid induction cooktops, though manufacturers recommend maintaining distance from the devices. Pacemaker and defibrillator devices should be kept approximately one to two feet away from induction cooktops; right-handed individuals with left-shoulder implants can safely use their right hand to cook while keeping the device at distance. Using properly-sized cookware on induction cooktops reduces magnetic field leakage around the edges; pans should be the correct size or slightly larger rather than too small. Public awareness about electromagnetic field risks remains limited, though awareness is typically raised when devices are initially implanted to the patients who need it most. Arc welders pose one of the most significant everyday electromagnetic field risks for people with pacemakers and require careful distance management and potential shielding. Other medical devices like hip and knee prostheses can be warmed by MRI scanners, but coronary stents appear unaffected by external magnetic forces.