What Is Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS)?
Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) is a condition in which people have a wide range of symptoms that they believe are caused by exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs). EMFs come from sources like cell phones, Wi-Fi, and other everyday electronic devices.
Doctors can’t fully explain what triggers symptoms associated with EHS, which often include headache, fatigue, dizziness, skin problems, sleep trouble, and trouble concentrating. There’s ongoing research in this area.
Other names for electromagnetic hypersensitivity include:
- Electromagnetic hypersensitivity syndrome
- Microwave syndrome
- Electromagnetic sensitivity
- Electrohypersensitivity (EHS)
- Idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF)
What are electromagnetic fields (EMFs)?
EMFs are areas of energy waves you can’t see. They usually come from electricity that flows through wires or devices that are turned on.
There are two main types of EMFs:
Ionizing radiation. You’re exposed to high-energy EMFs when you get an X-ray or have radiation therapy.
Health experts know higher-frequency electromagnetic fields can damage your DNA or other tissue on contact. That's why doctors use radiation to kill or shrink cancer cells and ask you if you’re pregnant before you get an X-ray. (Brief exposure to X-rays is generally considered safe for most people.)
Non-ionizing radiation. We depend on electricity in modern life, so we’re surrounded by weaker “non-ionizing” electromagnetic fields all the time. These low-energy EMFs don’t emit the kind of radiation known to damage the body, but they’ve been linked to EHS symptoms.
Low-frequency to mild-frequency EMFs come from things such as:
- Cell phones or cell towers
- Wi-Fi routers or wireless devices
- 5G technology
- Cordless telephones
- Electrical appliances or wiring in your house
- Computers, laptops, and other personal electronic devices
- Power lines and transformers
- Compact fluorescent, LED, and halogen light bulbs
- Laser pointers
- Smart meters (devices that wirelessly send info about energy use to utility companies)
There are also natural sources of non-ionizing radiation, including lightning, sunlight and heat, and the electric and magnetic fields made by the Earth.
How common is electromagnetic hypersensitivity?
In general, researchers have found that around 1.5% to 5% of the population believe they are a sensitive or “allergic” to electromagnetic fields. But some researchers have found rates as high as 13%.
According to surveys, here’s a breakdown of how common electromagnetic hypersensitivity is around the world:
- Finland: 0.7% to 1.6%
- Japan: 1.2%
- Sweden: 2.7%
- U.S. (California): 3.2%
- Austria: 3.5%
- Netherlands: 3.5% to 7%
- Switzerland: 5% to 8.6%
- Germany: 7.2% to 10.3%
- Taiwan: 4.6% to 13.3%
Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Symptoms
Electromagnetic hypersensitivity syndrome is a self-reported condition. While there's no medical definition or any set guidelines for its symptoms, those who say they have EHS often have similar issues.
Electromagnetic hypersensitivity symptoms differ from person to person but commonly include:
- Skin problems, like redness, tingling, or burning
- Sleep disorders, including insomnia
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Trouble concentrating or paying attention
- Muscle and body pain (fibromyalgia)
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
People with EHS often report other brain and nervous system symptoms such as:
- Confusion
- Strong mood swings that change quickly
- Depression or irritability
- Suicidal thoughts
- Nervousness
- Memory loss
- Balance problems
- Sensitivity to sound or noise
People who say they have idiopathic environmental intolerance (IEI), a broader definition for environmental illness that includes EHS, sometimes report general symptoms like:
- Fast heart rate
- Chest pain
- Sweating
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Flushing
- Nausea
- Choking
- Coughing or hoarseness
Symptoms linked to electromagnetic hypersensitivity usually aren’t serious. But call 911 or get medical help right away if you have fast heart rate, trouble breathing, or you throw up. These could be a sign of another medical condition, such as a serious allergic reaction.
Who gets symptoms of electromagnetic hypersensitivity?
You may be more likely to report symptoms associated with EHS if you’re generally more sensitive or responsive to stress or have a lot of health anxiety, particularly about EMFs or the harms of modern life.
People who say they’re sensitive to electromagnetic fields often have a somatic symptom disorder. This is a mental health condition where you worry a lot about pain or other health problems. Your health concerns may or may not be linked to a diagnosed medical condition.
Other mental health conditions linked to EHS include:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Anxiety or panic disorders
- Phobias (like being afraid to leave your house)
- Paranoia
Your odds of electromagnetic hypersensitivity may go up if you have interpersonal hypersensitivity. That's when you feel insecure around other people or in your relationships. You may also get your feelings hurt easily or have strong emotions like anger, hostility, or resentment towards others.
Is electromagnetic hypersensitivity related to multiple chemical sensitivity?
Some researchers have found that around 30% of people who report a sensitivity to electromagnetic fields also have multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), also called idiopathic environmental intolerance (IEI). With MCS, you have bad reactions to even tiny amounts of some substances.
There’s some debate about whether MCS (or IEI) stems from mental or physical causes. But people who have it say they get nausea, skin problems, headache, breathing problems, watery eyes, and other allergy-like symptoms when they’re around low levels of chemicals that don’t seem to bother most people.
If you have symptoms of MCS, you may have a low tolerance for exposure to:
- Cleaning products
- Gasoline
- Exhaust fumes
- Pesticides
- Strong smells
Your odds of MCS and EHS may be higher if you’re a woman or were assigned female at birth. Experts aren’t sure why this is, but hormonal changes and a more sensitive stress-response system may play a role.
Is Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Real?
Researchers haven’t found a clear link between exposure to electromagnetic fields and health problems, but it's not for lack of trying. Nearly 50 controlled studies couldn’t reproduce EHS symptoms in a lab.
Still, the symptoms associated with electromagnetic hypersensitivity are real and can be disabling.
In 2005, the World Health Organization recognized idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF) as a global health concern. This means that although scientific proof is lacking, the WHO acknowledges that people who say they have EHS have symptoms that interfere with their lives.
While there’s still debate about the dangers of exposure to electromagnetic fields, medical professionals are increasingly focused on improving quality of life for those who believe they have EHS, including finding better ways to diagnose, treat, or prevent its symptoms.
What causes electromagnetic hypersensitivity symptoms?
No one knows exactly why some people get EHS symptoms, but researchers have some theories, such as:
Increased EMF exposure. The first theory is that people who think they have electromagnetic sensitivity are right: They get brain or immune system changes that make them feel sick when they’re around power lines, cell phones, or other low-frequency EMFs.
But while some researchers believe EHS is a diagnosable brain and nervous system (neurologic) disorder, current research doesn’t provide strong evidence to support this theory.
The nocebo effect. This is when something makes you feel bad because you think it’s dangerous. Not all researchers have found that exposure to EMFs causes symptoms based on the nocebo effect. But several studies do show that negative ideas about EMFs seem to play a role in symptoms.
For example, one study found that people who thought they were exposed to high EMF levels said they felt sicker, regardless of their actual EMF exposure. This doesn’t prove that people faked their symptoms, but it shows their experience wasn’t directly related to high levels of EMFs.
Being overly alert to danger. There’s some evidence that people who say they have EHS have an extra-sensitive central and autonomic nervous systems. In other words, harmless things may trigger their fight-or-flight response. We need much more research in this area.
Inflammation. Some studies show that people who say they have EHS have higher levels of inflammation, as shown by certain markers in their blood. In one study, people in the group with EHS also had higher levels of histamine, a substance your body releases in response to allergies, bug bites, or injury.
Other health conditions. Your symptoms might be caused by a hidden medical issue, such as a respiratory, skin, or digestive disease. Studies also show that around 40% to 75% of people who say environmental factors are the cause of their physical symptoms could have a somatic symptom disorder (when you worry about your health more than your doctor thinks you should).
When to See a Doctor
Schedule a visit with your doctor anytime you have physical, mental, or emotional symptoms that bother you, especially if they make it hard for you to go to work, do daily tasks, or enjoy life.
There are no clear guidelines for how to diagnose EHS, but your doctor may:
- Ask about your symptoms and medical history
- Give you a physical exam
- Test your blood for inflammation, histamine, or signs of other health problems
- Check for other medical issues, including autoimmune conditions and allergies
- Discuss multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS)
- Try to see whether your symptoms come back when you’re exposed to EMFs
- Refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist
If your doctor suggests a psychological evaluation, it doesn’t mean they think your health problems are imaginary. A mental health professional can help diagnose and treat depression, anxiety, or other psychological factors that may contribute to your symptoms.
Other reasons to seek mental health care for your EHS symptoms include:
- You can’t stop thinking about your symptoms, even if they’re not serious.
- You spend a lot of time and energy trying to manage your symptoms.
- You always have some anxiety about your health.
- Your physical symptoms never go away.
- You feel like you can’t be around other people or live a regular life.
- You’re scared to use or be around electrical devices.
How do you treat electromagnetic hypersensitivity?
The goal is to improve your quality of life, reduce your social isolation, and cut down on how much you avoid EMFs and electronic devices. Fortunately, your doctor can do that without proving that you have a sensitivity to electromagnetic fields.
There's no standard electromagnetic hypersensitivity treatment. But treatment for EHS generally includes:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy or other talk therapy
- Group therapy with other people who have EHS
- Avoiding known environmental triggers
- Treating other medical conditions that may cause your symptoms
If you have allergies or high levels of histamine in your blood, your doctor may recommend you take an antihistamine.
Your doctor might ask you to consider how other things in your environment besides electromagnetic fields might worsen your symptoms, including:
- Poor indoor air quality
- Too much noise
- Poor lighting or flickering lights
- Glare from your computer or other devices with screens
- Working or living in a stressful or uncomfortable environment
Ask your doctor to refer you to an occupational therapist or other specialist to help evaluate the safety and comfort of your home or workplace.
Electromagnetic hypersensitivity at work
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other laws, you can get “reasonable accommodations” at work if you feel you can’t do your job well due to either chemical or electromagnetic sensitivities.
Schedule a meeting with your employer’s reasonable accommodation coordinator (if there is one) or someone in human resources (HR) to talk about how your symptoms interfere with your ability to do your job and what changes might help you succeed.
Depending on your symptoms, you may be able to ask for:
- Everyone to turn off their cell phone or computer during meetings.
- A headset or handset that gives you space between your body and devices.
- A workspace that’s farther away from the area that seems to trigger your symptoms.
- The choice to work remotely.
- The ability to use wired telephones or wired internet connections.
- An alternative to using a computer for work, such as writing with pen and paper.
These groups may help you find more information about how to ensure the health and safety of your home or workplace:
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA)
- National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH)
- American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
Takeaways
Electromagnetic hypersensitivity is a condition linked to a range of symptoms believed to be caused by exposure to electromagnetic fields from cell phones, power lines, and other electrical devices. While research hasn't found a clear link between EMF exposure and health problem, the symptoms are real and can be disabling. Doctors are increasingly focused on improving quality of life for people who believe they have EHS, including finding better ways to diagnose, treat, or prevent its symptoms.
Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity FAQs
What are the symptoms of high EMF exposure?
Researchers haven’t been able to prove that exposure to low-energy electromagnetic fields (EMFs) causes health problems. But people who believe they’re sensitive to EMFs report symptoms such as headache, fatigue, numbness or tingling, dizziness, trouble concentrating, insomnia, and memory loss.
Is electrosmog real?
Electrosmog is another term used to describe electromagnetic fields (EMFs). These areas of energy are invisible but real, and you’re exposed to them all the time when you’re around flowing electricity. But there’s no evidence that exposure to electrosmog and low-energy EMFs is dangerous.
Is electromagnetic hypersensitivity a real thing?
There’s no scientific proof that you can be sensitive to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) or that exposure to EMFs leads to health problems. But the symptoms of electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) are real.
Tell your doctor if you have skin problems such as redness, burning, tingling, or if you get fatigue, dizziness, trouble concentrating, or other symptoms that have been linked to EHS. Treatment can help you manage your symptoms without getting rid of all your electrical devices.
Can electromagnetic waves hurt you?
Electromagnetic waves can travel through air or solid material (like walls or living things). These invisible energy fields are also called radiation.
Certain kinds of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation can damage your DNA, including X-rays and radiation therapy used to kill cancer cells. But researchers haven’t found a link between exposure to low-energy electromagnetic waves (like the kind that come from Wi-Fi or cell phones) and health problems.