Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity: Do You Have This?

If you have been suffering from a range of symptoms like migraine, skin rashes and insomnia with no apparent cause, you might have electromagnetic hypersensitivity or EHS. It is often misdiagnosed due to lack of training, and because EHS can mimic other diseases. We wrote this article to provide more information about this very real disease and its effects and ways to tell if you are suffering from this.

What is Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS)?

This article by the World Health Organization (WHO) states that EHS presents with non-specific symptoms that do not have physiological or toxicological causes. These symptoms can vary greatly amongst individuals and run the gamut from dizziness to brain fog to depression. The most common symptoms of EHS include:

• headache
• tinnitus
• constant fatigue
• frequent illness and infections
• lack of focus
• tingling or itching in skin

Symptoms are thought to be caused by exposure to EMF radiation from the plethora of electronics that surround us daily. The majority of us cannot immediately feel the effects of EMF, but those who are suffering from EHS will experience noticeable symptoms anytime they are in areas with high electromagnetic field radiation.

Many people disregard EHS as a pseudo-illness, even with mounting evidence to support its existence. The Washington Post’s article, “Are ‘Wi-Fi Allergies’ a Real Thing? A Quick Guide to Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity” asserts that France and Australia have awarded disability benefits or workman’s compensation to individuals determined to be suffering from EHS.

The same article indicates that Sweden recognizes EHS as a “functional impairment” that allows accommodations and legal protection for those who suffer from it. However, a court in New Mexico did throw out a lawsuit claiming ill-effects on health from iPhones and Wi-Fi signals. So, there is obviously still much debate.

How can I Tell if I Have Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity?

Unfortunately, many doctors lack appropriate training in dealing with the effects of EMF radiation, as it has only become more common in the past few years with the rising use of electronic devices. The best way to figure out if you might have EHS is to simply test the waters.

1. Journaling Journaling is one of the best ways to figure out if and where EMF radiation is affecting you. Keep a daily log of any concerning symptoms, where and when they happen, the severity, and any possible reasons for them. You might find you can write off that headache you always get at work to the overwhelming scent of your co-worker’s perfume, or you might find that headache is a direct result of multiple computers, electrical cords, Wi-Fi routers, and telephones bombarding your body with EMF.

2. EMF Meter Purchasing an EMF Meter like this one can help you determine hot spots for EMF in your home or at work. If you find you have symptoms in areas with higher EMF readings, it would suggest you might have EHS. Take readings whenever you notice symptoms and record them in your journal, too. If you notice a pattern developing, you will have an easier time avoiding it in the future.

3. Vacation Okay, we are not talking about taking a vacation to some luxury resort that will still expose you to mass amounts of EMF. Instead, go on a camping trip as far into nature as you can get. It is true that you cannot completely escape EMF, but you can get far enough away to see if your symptoms improve.

While it is best if you can get to an area with no cell phone coverage, this isn’t always a possibility. Simply distancing yourself from cities, cell towers, Wi-Fi routers, and electricity should give you a good idea if you have EHS.

4. Less-Common Symptoms Be sure to take note of the less-common symptoms of EHS. It is quite possible you have lived with some of these for so long that you don’t even realize they are symptoms. If you have any of the following symptoms in conjunction with the common symptoms of EHS, you may have it.

• slow recovery from injury and illness
• moodiness
• anxiety
• depression
• nausea
• vomiting

What Should I do if I Suspect I am Electromagnetic Hypersensitive?

You could seek out a doctor who specializes in or at least has some training in EMF radiation, but the best way to alleviate your symptoms is to avoid it as much as possible. There are many ways and many products that can help you reduce your exposure to EMF, but starting simple is your best bet. These steps could even help to further prove that you do have EHS.

1. Remove EMF Sources in the Bedroom Since most of us spend the most time in our bedrooms while at home, it makes sense to start reducing EMF exposure here first. Do not sleep with your cell phone in the bedroom. Move it and its charging unit into another room. Instead of using your phone’s alarm, purchase a battery operated alarm clock to wake you.

2. Remove EMF Sources in the Rest of Your Home Obviously, you cannot remove all EMF sources in your home, but there are small things you can do to reduce it. For example, switch back to incandescent light bulbs if you are using CFLs or LEDs. Their power-saving properties actually create an excess of electricity dubbed “Dirty Electricity,” which is a major culprit of EMF in the home.

You could also consider switching your internet back to a wired service instead of using Wi-Fi. If that simply isn’t feasible to you, consider using a Wi-Fi router cover to minimize EMF emissions.

3. Personal Protection You could also check out some personal EMF protection options like EMF clothing or EMF protection crystals. Both of these options offer protection that can be kept close to you and can help to reduce any symptoms.

Final Thoughts on Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity

In our modern world, EMF-emitting devices are only becoming more commonplace. This wreaks havoc on those who may not yet know whether they are sensitive or not. We hope that this article has been informative in helping you determine if you have EHS, and what to do to protect yourself from it. You will find it easy to take control of your health and minimize your symptoms with these protective measures.

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