How do you avoid a health hazard that you can’t see, taste, smell or hear, and most people can’t even feel? This stealthy culprit is called Electromagnetic Radiation, and it has been a controversial topic in regards to safety and risk since the Digital Revolution began in the late 1900’s.
So what is Electromagnetic Radiation exactly? According to the World Health Organization, Electric Fields are created by the presence of voltage, and the higher the voltage, the stronger the electric field. Magnetic Fields are created when electric fields have a current, and the greater the current, the stronger the magnetic field. Some examples of these Electromagnetic Fields (EMF’s) are naturally occurring, such as the buildup of charge in a thunderstorm (lightening), or the Earth’s magnetic field (which we use for navigation with a compass). Other examples of Electromagnetic Fields are artificial, such as any tool or appliance powered by electricity, including the power socket in your home that runs the appliance, and the wireless internet and radio waves in the air. It is the extreme increase in artificial EMF’s over the last 40 years which are the cause for concern in terms of health, creating what is now called “EMF Pollution”.
You may be surprised to learn that our bodies also operate through naturally occurring EMF’s, using tiny, electrical currents made by internal chemical reactions (in other words – electricity!) For example, nerves relay signals by transmitting electric impulses to the brain, or by creating heart rhythm, or through the digestion of food which gives us energy to perform work. Our bodies utilize natural electricity 24 hours per day, but we are negatively affected by artificial electricity in our environment. Artificial EMF’s cause damage by inducing voltages and currents that literally heat up our bodies at the cellular level – this is exactly how a microwave works. Intensity and duration of exposure drastically effect how severely our tissues are heated, and therefore the extent of the damage done to the cells of our entire body. Although some people are sensitive enough to EMF’s to experience immediate reactions, most of us can’t distinguish the cause for our symptoms by an invisible hazard. According to the WHO (World Health Organization) and the EMF Safety Network, health problems that can manifest as a result to EMF exposure include headaches, memory, concentration, fatigue, aches and pains, rashes, anxiety, sleeping disorders, eye irritation, cataracts, hearing impairments, nausea, fatigue, depression, loss of libido, loss of fertility, heart palpations, cancer, convulsions and epileptic seizures.
Let’s face it, there is an ever-increasing saturation of EMF’s polluting our air, our work environments, and living environments. In order to maintain health and wellness, prudent avoidance of EMF’s is advised, but most of us require the use of it in order to live in today’s society. What can you do to minimize your exposure, and protect yourself and your loved ones?
- Become knowledgeable of your surroundings. Tools for measuring the exposure in your environment are available for purchase through Amazon. An Alpha UHS Milliguass Meter is used to measure magnetic fields (safe levels for adults are 2.0 and below, and safe levels for children are 1.5 and below), and an Acoustimeter AM -10 is used to measure electromagnetic fields and radio frequencies (ideal levels are below 0.19, and dangerous levels are 0.87 and above).
- Know which commonly used tools are considered “high frequency” (above 200 Hz). According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the strength of an electromagnetic field fades with distance from the source. Limiting the amount of time spent around a source and increasing the distance from a source reduces exposure. So turn off and unplug all electrical items when not in use, and avoid direct contact with high frequency sources such as cell phones, computers, radar, television, hair dryers, microwaves, and ultrasound devices.
- Don’t wear your cell phone on your body; take it out of your pocket, and move it approximately 3-6 ft. away from your body when you aren’t using it.
- When you are talking on your cell phone, use speaker phone as often as possible to avoid direct contact with your head (home of the brain).
- When you go to bed, turn off the wireless internet in your home, and either turn off your cell phone or turn on Airplane Mode.
- Never use a laptop on your lap – place it on a table, and take a 5 minute break away from the computer every 45 minutes.
- Sit approximately 9 ft. away from your television.
- Replace your microwave oven with a toaster oven.
- For pregnant women, limit your ultra-sound screenings to one per pregnancy, unless deemed medically necessary by your healthcare provider.
- Purchase EMF protective-ware to protect yourself from the strong EMF sources in your environment, such as a Q-Link from https://www.shopqlink.com/
- Get regular check-ups by your chiropractor to monitor any inter-cellular miscommunication occurring in the Central Nervous System.
Yours in Health,
SFC
The information provided by the Stillpoint Family Chiropractic Wellness Blog is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained on or available through this website is for general information purposes only. Stillpoint Family Chiropractic assumes no responsibility for its accuracy, and encourages its readers to confirm all details from alternate sources, and any and all content is subject to change without notice.