Electro-Hypersensitivity

"There are presently sufficient clinical, biological, and radiological data for EHS to be acknowledged as a well-defined, objectively identified, and characterized pathological neurologic disorder." Belpomme & Irigaray

What is Electrohypersensitivity (EHS)?

To be clear, all humans are electrochemical organisms. The brain, heart and gut are electrically and chemically activated organ systems-all the way down to voltage-gated ion channels on cell membranes, in which an electrical signal can lead to chemicals entering the cell that alter that cell’s function. As such, we are all “electrosensitive”.(1)
Electrohypersensitivity (EHS) is a heightened sensitivity to human-made electromagnetic fields in the environment that are generally tolerated well by those without electrohypersensitivity. EHS often results in a range of reactions, symptoms, and degree of severity.
The term electromagnetic hypersensitivity was first proposed by Dr. William Rea in 1991 to identify the clinical condition of patients reporting health effects while being exposed to an electromagnetic field.(2)
According to the Electrosensitive Society, electrohypersensitivity is an environmentally-induced disability that has been around for the past 100 plus years. It has gone by different names including neurasthenia (weakening of the nervous system); microwave sickness, radio wave illness, screen dermatitis, electromagnetic sensitivity, as well as idiopathic environmental intolerance. Some call it rapid aging syndrome as this represents the symptoms most people experience who are sensitive to electromagnetic frequencies.(3)
In Sweden, electrohypersensitivity (EHS) is an officially fully recognized functional impairment (i.e., it is not regarded as a disease). Survey studies show that somewhere between 230,000–290,000 Swedish men and women report a variety of symptoms when being in contact with electromagnetic field (EMF) sources.(4)(5)
According to scientists Dominique Belpomme and Philippe Irigaray, there are presently sufficient data for EHS to be acknowledged as a distinctly well-defined and objectively characterized neurologic pathological disorder.(6)
Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS), sometimes referred to as Electrical Sensitivity (ES) or Microwave Sickness, is a condition in which a person experiences adverse health effects and loss of homeostasis in the presence of man-made electromagnetic fields (EMFs).(7)
Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) is a clinical syndrome characterized by the presence of a wide spectrum of non-specific multiple organ symptoms, typically including central nervous system symptoms, that occur following the patient's acute or chronic exposure to electromagnetic fields in the environment or in occupational settings.(8)
Electrosensitivity is a chronic illness exacerbated by either short-term exposure to high levels or long-term exposure to low levels of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation.(9)
EHS is an allergy to human-made electromagnetic emissions.(10)
Electromagnetic sensitivity (ES) is a progressive disabling disease associated with exposure to electronic equipment.(11)
Electrosensitivity (ES), Electromagnetic Sensitivity, Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS) or Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance is the phenomenon where the human organism experiences symptoms from exposure to the stimulus of electromagnetic (EM) fields of certain strengths and frequencies (including radiofrequency (RF) microwave transmissions), which symptoms then abate and disappear after the stimulus ceases.(12)

What causes EHS?

Electrohypersensitivity and related symptoms are caused by non-ionizing man-made electromagnetic fields.(1)
There is no proof that EHS symptoms or EHS itself are caused by psychosomatic or nocebo effects.(2)
There is increasing evidence that the “microwave syndrome” or “electro-hypersensitivity” (EHS) is a real disease that is caused by exposure to EMFs, especially those in the microwave range.(3)
Electrohypersensitivity can be caused by successive assaults on human bioelectrochemical dynamics from exogenous electromagnetic fields (EMF) and RFR or a single acute exposure.(4)
There is no scientific reason why the EMF could not cause EHS in some part of the human population. There is a well-known, and scientifically well-established, phenomenon of the individual sensitivity (Foray et al. 2012). Individual sensitivity means that, because of the genetic and the epigenetic differences between people, different persons have different sensitivity to the same exposing factor (radiation or chemicals).(5)

What are EHS Symptoms?

The symptoms associated with electromagnetic hypersensitivity include:

Chronic fatigue
Sleep disorders
Chronic pain
Cognitive disorders
Mood disorders
Rapid/irregular heart rate
Skin rashes
Neurological disorders (MS)
Dizziness
Nausea
Bed wetting
Nose bleeds
Pressure sense - head and ears
Sharp pains - head and ears
Sensations of electric shock
Tinnitus - ringing in ears
Visual and hearing disturbances
Short term memory loss
Anomia - thought block
Tremor / vibration / seizure
Behavioral change
Increased food sensitivity
Increased chemical sensitivity
Low or no libido

EHS Mechanism

A mechanism is defined as the fundamental processes involved in or responsible for an action, reaction, or other natural phenomenon. Electrosensitive people react adversely when exposed to human-made electromagnetic field radiation. They are able to describe their symptoms but not necessarily the process for how these symptoms manifest.

Scientists and researchers have made some discoveries about the possible mechanism(s) for EHS:

A 2017 comprehensive systemic review and meta analysis (Wang et al) showed a significant association between mobile phone use and headaches. The mechanism is not fully understood but appears to be linked to membrane calcium channel effects, blood brain barrier effects or neurotransmitter effects.(1)
Stein and Udasin (2020) wrote a clear summary of electrosensitivity mechanisms, noting the similarities with multiple chemical sensitivities. The mechanism is related to oxidative stress and alteration of calcium channel signaling.(2)
It is concluded that the mechanisms underlying the symptoms of EHS are biologically plausible and that many organic physiologic responses occur following EMF exposure. Patients can have neurologic, neuro-hormonal and neuro-psychiatric symptoms following exposure to EMF as a consequence of neural damage and over-sensitized neural responses.(3)
Many hypersensitive patients appear to have impaired detoxification systems that become overloaded by excessive oxidative stress (Korkina, 2009; De Luca et al., 2014)(4)
Electrosensitivity exists as a very real problem. There is ample biological evidence to enable an understanding of this widespread phenomenon. Recent studies suggest possible genetic links, confirm positive subjective evidence, and confirm that voltage-gated calcium channels are an established mechanism for EM effects at nonthermal levels.(5)
Whatever the precise molecular mechanism to be considered, the present data strongly suggest that EHS self-reporting patients, more precisely EMFIS-bearing patients, present with oxidative/nitrosative stress.(6)
To watch a video with Dr. George Carlo giving a talk about the mechanism process for electrohypersensitivity, please CLICK HERE.