Electrohypersensitivity syndrome, or EHS, can be a product of our modern environment — infused by electromagnetic fields (EMF) associated with the use of electrical devices. Though our five senses can’t readily EMF, more and more people are experiencing a variety of nonspecific physical symptoms associated to it. And a subset of those individuals even experience an intense reaction: EHS.
Because EMF can affect the workings of any given cell. EMF exposure can induce a wide variety of nonspecific symptoms in a person with electrosensitivity and EHS, in particular, including:
- Headaches
- Pressure and/or sharp pain in the head/ears
- Electric shock sensations
- Dizziness/Vertigo/Tinnitus
- Visual/hearing disturbance
- Short term memory loss
- Insomnia/disturbed sleep/Circadian rhythm reversal
- Tremors/vibratory sensation/seizures
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Sense of urinary and/or bowel urgency
- Increased chemical sensitivity
- General sensory up regulation
Courtesy of Dr. Erica Mallery-Blythe Electromagnetic Fields Conference Diagnosis and Treatment: Effects of Electromagnetic Fields Exposure – 2019
It is important to understand that electrosensitivity is not a disorder, dysfunction or disease. An individual who can sense EMF will adapt and make lifestyle modifications to avoid exposure the rest of us don’t perceive. Living in neighborhoods and cities has become increasingly uncomfortable for people with extreme sensitivity and many must move out to remote areas where EMF is minimal or absent. EMF free zones are slowly disappearing as industry broadens its network across the globe.
Medical Treatment
If you are suffering from headaches, depression, tinnitus, vertigo, or any of the other conditions associated with EMF, a very real solution might be to make lifestyle changes that diminish your daily and nighttime EMF exposure.
Several years ago, a close family member was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism by a physician after serial blood tests documented persistently abnormal values. After discussing the surgical and radio-ablation treatment options available to her with her physician, she apprised me of the situation. Being aware that the thyroid gland is extremely sensitive to radiation, I asked her where her wifi router was located. She replied that it was in her bedroom. I suggested she move the router down to the basement before undergoing any treatment and to have her bloodwork repeated one more time. She agreed, and at her follow up doctor visit, her lab values had normalized. Her thyroid function has remained normal ever since without any surgical or medical treatment.
Certainly, some medical conditions in the above list, such as cardiac arrhythmia require prompt medical attention, but excessive exposure to EMF may cause debilitating, non emergent conditions, such as insomnia, even in children. My teenagers have proudly shared with me that when their school friends complain of insomnia they’ve told them not to sleep next to their cell phones. It’s a start…
At this point in time, most physicians know nothing about EMF or its negative health effects. But, if you have symptoms of electrohypersensitivity and need guidance, there is a growing community of physicians aware of this condition. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine and the International Society for Environmentally Acquired Illness are organizations with online searches for knowledgeable physicians. As this condition becomes better understood by the general medical community, the number of physicians available for advice will undoubtedly increase.
Finally, The Environmental Health Trust is an exceptional online resource providing a large number of educational materials on electrohypersensitivity and related issues — these can help you gain a complete understanding of the current status and future trends of EMF generating technology.
Learn more about the effects of exposure to EMF in this comprehensive introduction.