Poll: Electromagnetic hypersensitivity?

[-IT-]

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS for short): a condition where people experience an wide array of symptoms that, they believe, is caused by electromagnetic fields.

Basically people with EHS believe that electronic devices (cell phones, computers, microwaves etc ) are the cause of general medical symptoms such as headaches and high blood pressures. Because the symptoms can be caused by other things (like stress), and since there is no strong proof that links EHS to electromagnetic fields, EHS can be classified as a psychosomatic illness (where mental processes are the cause of various physiological symptoms).

Yet, various studies and surveys indicate that a lot of people (about 1-2% from a random sample group) claim to have EHS.

So EHS, is it a real, or is it a load of bs.

 

[Scary_Bob]

"EHS can be classified as a psychosomatic illness (where mental processes are the cause of various physiological symptoms)."

I'd agree with this, which I suppose counts as other rather than no.

 

[GRoXERs]

I'd say this is a pretty obvious no.
See, light is also a part of the electromagnetic spectrum, but I'm willing to bet these people aren't actually afraid of the sun. As Scary_Bob said, if there is anything there, it's purely psychosomatic.

 

[Yokai]

It seems unlikely. On the other hand, my mother is convinced holding a cell phone up to your head will give you cancer. She uses headphones whenever possible. So you never know.

 

[-IT-]

I'd say this is a pretty obvious no.
See, light is also a part of the electromagnetic spectrum, but I'm willing to bet these people aren't actually afraid of the sun. As Scary_Bob said, if there is anything there, it's purely psychosomatic.

Yeah, personally the whole EHS thing is all between the ears, but that still makes me wonder why so many people still think its real / suffer from it.

 

[Shadow5]

Yes it is psychosomatic, which is to say the symptoms are caused by the mental processes of the sufferer.

However it is possible that people who have EHS have a brain structure which is more vulnerable to magnetic fields, and therefore the field has an effect on the mental processes of the sufferer.

BTW. the electro-magnetic spectrum and electromagnetic fields are quite different.
The Earth has an electromagnetic field but it does not emmit energy in the any of the forms of the electromagnetic spectrum.

 

[imperialwar]

Well at the risk of ridecule I suffer from this condition.

I generate a lot of Static Electricity and need to be well grounded before handling any internal parts of any electronic device.
I must remain indoors during 1/2 and full eclipses due to the change in the earths magnetic activity. Concrete / brick building perferably. Exposure results in my body going extraordinarily twitchy. Even then being inside it is like this too, to a degree.

It makes dealing with exposed electric currents..interesting to say the least. Depending on the voltage i can carry the charge through my body without harm. It is a famous party trick of mine from when i was younger. Grounding out, by forcing my hands together would result in a minor bolt transference between each hand, usually for about 5seconds over about a 2inch gap. Needless to say it hurts liek a *****, but to be young and cool we try everything. I had people convinced i could do magic ( at least that was therumour going around )

I have discussed this condition at length with my doctor and have had medically recorded testing done.

I also have a co-ordination problem that comes from the electronic impulses from my brain jumping from nerve to nerve on occassion. Up until the age of three i couldnt walk properly. I was 13 before i could get my hands steady enough to tie my shoes.

I have studied my body endlessly, enacting all sorts of self testing to push my limits. My pain threshold is extremely high, and if focused enough i can crush something so hard that my knuckles dislocate themselves under the stress.

So it is not only external factors for me, the internal electronic activity of my body is also eschew. Added to this i also have an elevated core temperature, which i think is generated by this electric activity, that Doctors arent sure what causes it.

I have had more blood tests then i care to remember, had more electric pads attatched to my chest and head then i care to remember, and have had at least 5 electric shocks from simple day to day tasks every day for my entire 31 years.

So yeah you know... its all in my head...

 

[Shadow5]

I must admit that sounds very interesting.

It could be that your brain (or any other part of your body) produces excess electricity and this could be concentrated through your meridians.

Have you gone to see a traditional chinese doctor?

 

[GRoXERs]

I must remain indoors during 1/2 and full eclipses due to the change in the earths magnetic activity. Concrete / brick building perferably.

Erm... what? What are you talking about? The earth's magnetic activity is a function of the dynamic action of the inner solid and outer liquid iron core.

Edit: Or did you mean solar eclipse? I can see that affecting the magnetic field (albeit to a tiny degree, such that any wiring in the house you're in would have a more disruptive effect on your personal EM field...)

 

[Shadow5]

The moon has a magnetic field too

 

[WheresMyCow]

To be honest, I don't have the slightest idea. It seems plausible, but without proof I'm gonna air on the side of caution.

 

[ghostsprite9]

i dont have it like you explained it but there must be something like it out there.

but when ever i get near a electromagnetic device i can hear a ringing in my ear i have no idea what it could be. could be nothing but its not to loud but anoying.

 

[GRoXERs]

The moon has a magnetic field too

An absolutely tiny one, and that wouldn't change in case of an eclipse of any kind anyway.

i dont have it like you explained it but there must be something like it out there.

but when ever i get near a electromagnetic device i can hear a ringing in my ear i have no idea what it could be. could be nothing but its not to loud but anoying.

I have that too, but that's due to actual noise, at a frequency that [most] adults can't hear. It's because electronic devices make small noises due to polarization changes when they use electricity, especially TVs and anything with a coil, which actually vibrate a little bit, making a high-pitched whine, or (if there's a speaker anywhere on it) poor shielding on speaker wires can directly make noise. If you go near a high-voltage transfer station or similar, you can actually hear/feel that hum from polarization changes (it's at 60 Hz, just at the low range of human hearing).

 

[B1GM3]

I can hear when a TV is on from another room when the sound is muted due to an intensely high-pitched whine that you can hear over but is easily noticeable. It is especially common with old TVs and that's pretty much it. It would seem to support GRoXERs' theory as no other ill effects occur. I can't say I know a lot about EHS though. IT may be to do with the synapses in the brain where different chemicals cause electrical currents to carry a signal in the nerves. If the current was amplified or muted slightly by electromagnetism, it could have major effects on the body, possibly including seizures.

 

[imperialwar]

Well i am not aware of the specifics but all i know is during a solar eclispe my body suffers from trembles. Could also be a visual thing as well, in my self studies i have concluded this possibility, the change in the active light from the sun.