When it comes to induction stoves, it’s better safe than sorry for me

I had deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery for Parkinson’s disease in August 2021. I felt it was the best choice for me at that stage of the disease. My tremors were barely controlled by round-the-clock frequent doses of levodopa, and I was exhausted.

Parkinson’s News Today describes DBS as a “surgical treatment that involves implanting electrodes into specific areas of the brain. These enable controlled electrical stimulation that can modulate neural activity and help ease symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease.” After the surgery, I was on an emotional and energetic high for about two years. For me, it certainly was the right decision. I tried to fit in everything I felt I had missed in the years before, and as a matter of fact, I am still trying to fit in as much as I can and lead a life that is the best it can be.

Every Sunday, our two daughters come for supper. Our family has expanded over the years to include their partners and our sweet little granddaughter. I usually make the main dish, and they bring the salad and dessert.

I am a retired chef who still loves to cook, and for years I’ve coveted an induction stove. What is that, you ask? A quick Google search explains how an induction cooktop works: “Induction cooktops use electromagnetism to heat cookware directly rather than heating a surface. Copper coils under a glass-ceramic surface create an alternating magnetic field that induces electrical currents (eddy currents) inside magnetic pots/pans, causing them to heat up instantly. The cooktop remains relatively cool, making it efficient, fast, and safe.”

Recommended Reading

April 1, 2026 News by Jacob Harney, PhD

Parkinson’s Awareness Month to focus on education, finding real answers

A neurologist’s thoughts

Instant heat without resorting to a gas flame seems ideal to me. We can’t get natural gas on our farm because we are too far from the main road, so my stovetop was an electric flattop, which was fine, but not exciting.

Then, at our Sunday dinner last week, things got quite exciting. While I was getting dinner ready in the afternoon, I had three pots on the stove, and then one of the burners beeped and turned off. I thought it was strange, but I just left it off. When my husband, John, came into the house, he tried to get it on again, to no avail. Then we realized that the other two burners were off, even though the indicator lights said they were on. The stove was broken.

So we all ate our supper, and John, who is an electrical engineer as well as a farmer, said, “Let’s get this stove working.” He proceeded to push buttons. Then he exclaimed, “I can’t get it to turn off!” My daughter said, “I’ve never seen the burners look so red!” I said something really helpful, like, “Maybe we should move away from it if it’s going to explode?”

John ran to the basement to flip the breaker, and then we heard a “boom.” The baby started to cry, we were running around to get the fire extinguisher, and the house started filling with black smoke. The stove had a fire in its electrical system that, fortunately, went out quickly, and everyone was safe. We had to open up all the windows and doors to get the smoke out of the house, and John and our son-in-law (who is an electrician) disconnected the cooktop and put it outside.

The next morning, John was researching a new cooktop and knew I wanted an induction cooktop, but then he read that people with DBS should not use induction cooktops. What? Could the internet be wrong about this? I emailed my neurologist, who in turn emailed Boston Scientific, the maker of my DBS system, and the response was very black-and-white. He said: “Leaning over or being beside some induction stoves could dramatically increase the amount of stimulation provided, leading to unpredictable side effects. They could also heat up the implants. I would recommend against it.”

He added: “If the patient stays out of the kitchen when the stove is on, it would probably be fine. But if the patient is the one who would be using the induction stove, then there is a risk. (Note that many induction stoves have warnings that people with pacemakers should stay at least 3+ feet away from it when on.)”

I had no idea. Unpredictable side effects? Heat up the implants? No, thank you! Suddenly, having the perfect stovetop didn’t seem important. So this is my public service announcement for April, which is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, to all my fellow DBS warriors: Research whether your own DBS system is compatible with induction cooktops, as there is a good chance it isn’t. Better to be safe than sorry.

Note: Parkinson’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinson’s News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinson’s disease.