Since it began in the early 1990’s, Wi-Fi has become so much a part of daily life – at work, home, or while travelling – that most people don’t even give it much thought. In many ways, it is one of the miracles of the modern age, helping people to stay connected, be entertained, and get information and news with a convenience never available at this level before. However, more medical experts are becoming concerned with the long-term health effects of being exposed to electromagnetic fields and research should definitely be done on such long-term health implications, including electromagnetic hypersensitivity syndrome.
Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Syndrome
Electromagnetic hypersensitivity syndrome (EMS) is an issue that effects people who are exposed to electromagnetic fields, such as those put out by WiFi. Preliminary studies indicate that this might be more of an issue than previously suspected. One interesting study was led by a team of researchers from the Environmental and Resource Studies Department at Trent University in Canada. It found that a cordless phone base station, placed near a person’s head and plugged in for three to four minutes, could affect the rhythms of the heart.
Some people appear to be more vulnerable to this than others, and EMS symptoms are divided into two categories: mild and severe.
Mild EMS Symptoms
Most people who are affected by EMS fortunately tend to report mild symptoms such as those listed below.
Light-headedness or dizziness Irritation of the skin, including itching and burning sensations, Headaches that are spontaneous, not easily treated and otherwise unexplained Nausea or queasiness Muscle ache or pain Difficulty concentrating
More Serious Exposure Problems
The problems listed above are pretty minor. However, some medical professionals are concerned that individuals who are more sensitive can experience more serious issues and that EMS could worsen problems like those listed below.
Attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity Migraines Insomnia and sleep disturbances Parkinson’s disease, Cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat) Certain forms of cancer.
Limiting Exposure
WiFi is everywhere and no one can avoid it entirely in this tech-heavy age. However, there are things you can do to limit exposure. Use landline phones at home or work whenever possible. It is also a good idea to carry your cell phone in a bag or purse – somewhere separate from your body – instead of your pocket, where it is right next to your body. It is also a good idea to keep children from cell phones, as their developing bodies are more vulnerable to EMFs.
Clearly, the jury is still out on the long-term health effects of WiFi and other forms of EMF exposure. Society is such that it is simply not possible to avoid exposure altogether, though the lifestyle changes mentioned above can help and hopefully more research on this issue will be done to examine what potential problems long-term EMF exposure can lead to.
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