Cut Wireless/Wi-Fi/ Bluetooth/EMF Exposure
Boost Sleep, Mood & Brain Health
by Mike Cohen, Director Center for Brain Training
I’m a brain guy. For more than 25 years I’ve dedicated myself to helping people get their brain to work better while avoiding things that contribute to brain problems.
In recent years I became aware that EMFs (electromagnetic frequencies), produced by modern technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microwaves and more, mess with your brain (though some people are more sensitive to it than others). Deep diving into the research resulted in learning about some simple steps that I began advising my clients to take who wanted to reduce their exposure.
It worked. Many of them reported improvements in sleep, anxiety, mood and other conditions in both themselves and their children. They had no idea EMF was affecting them until after they reduced their exposure.
Why don’t you hear more about the dangers of EMF?
Because it’s not in the interest of companies selling or using wireless (trillions of $) to share possible side effects.
Health concerns
There’s growing evidence that overexposure to EMFs can have adverse health effects. Among those effects in susceptible people are:
What are EMFs?
EMFs are invisible types of energy, often referred to as radiation, associated with the use of electrical power and various forms of natural and man-made lighting. They emanate from many sources, among them power lines, home appliances, cell phones, cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, fluorescent lights, smart TVs, smart meters, and Wi-Fi networks.
So, how do you minimize your exposure?
Nighttime Recommendations
- Turn off your wireless router when you sleep. Set it on a nightly timer to turn off automatically or move it farther away. (Your router is the box, usually provided by your telecom carrier, that brings internet into the house).
- If you can’t turn off your router, situate it (and any boosters) at least 40 feet away from sleeping areas. (Wi-Fi is typically not blocked by walls or flooring, so you can’t consider them barriers). 30 feet+ away from nighttime sitting or working areas is a plus.
- During sleep, DISTANCE your phones and Bluetooth earbuds and devices by at least 8-10 feet.
- Also, turn off other wireless devices (tablets, computers, TVs, etc.)
- Extra safety hint: Turn off phone Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in Settings at bedtime. Then click airplane mode, or better yet, turn your devices OFF while you sleep. (Believe it or not, some phones even in “airplane mode” can emit EMFs.)
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Extra Protection Day or Night
(For those who want to know more)
- Ideally, turn off all wireless devices (tablets, computers, TVs) when not in use.
- NEVER place your phone against your ear.
- Do not use wireless earbuds. (Use the speakerphone, wired headphones or air tube headphones. (Air tube headphones are designed specifically to shield EMFs).
- DISTANCE MATTERS. Keep your Wi-Fi router 20-30 feet away from those spaces you most frequently occupy (work, study, cook, etc.).
- Whenever possible, use hardwired internet connections using ethernet cables and USB connectors. “Hardwiring” is reliable, fast (often faster than Wi-Fi), and secure. There are movable wire connections you can use for portable devices like tablets.
What I’ve done about my own EMF exposure
Before I entered the neurofeedback field I worked in the high-tech industry. No surprise, then, that I was one of the first people I knew to go all-wireless at home and at work. In recent years, however, that’s all changed. After reading a lot of published research on the possible negative effects of EMF exposure and becoming concerned about what it could potentially do to the brain, I now work and live in completely wired environments again.
Great article How to Set Up Wired Internet at Your Home – A Simple Guide (emfanalysis.com)
Measuring EMF
There’s no way to know if you have an EMF problem unless you accurately measure, and because circumstances are always changing, it makes sense to test your environment every couple of months. You can find out by using an EMF/wireless/magnetic/electrical detector.
There are many such devices at various price points, but like most things, cheap isn’t better. I like the Safe and Sound Pro II RF Meter. It’s accurate, fast, clear, and easy to read and understand.
Safe and Sound’s EM3 EMF Meter is a more thorough (and more expensive) meter from the same company.
If you prefer not to do the metering yourself, you can hire an expert to do it for you.
In the South Florida area, I particularly like Axis Environmental Solutions (ask for Eric). He’s knowledgeable and reasonably priced.
You can find an expert by going to the website of the Building Biology Institute. Look for a tiny tab at the top of their page called “Find an Expert.” You can also do an internet search using a term like “EMF Inspections Homes Healthy Building” Make sure any company or individual you find is experienced. Ask what types of EMF they measure (RF or microwave, magnetic fields, electrical fields, dirty electricity). Ask if they can do remote support if you are at a distance.
Whoever you hire, make sure they are experienced. Ask how long they have been in business, what types of EMF they measure (RF or microwave, magnetic fields, electrical fields, dirty electricity) and if they can do remote support if you are at a distance.
Online Resources
- If you’d like to do your own research here are some particularly informative online resources to get you started.
- Ten Steps to Reduce Wireless and Cell Phone Radiation in Your Home: Healthy Living Environmental Health Trust (ehtrust.org)
- Letters From Doctors on risks of Wi-Fi, Cell Towers for Schools And Homes – Environmental Health Trust (ehtrust.org)
- Try This: Reduce Your EMF Exposure – Science-based discussion on reducing EMF/Wi-Fi
- The Broken Brain Podcast on EMF with Dr. Carlos Ritter (drhyman.com)
- TED TALK Wireless wake-up call | Jeromy Johnson (YouTube video: 18 minutes)| Ex Silicon Valley engineer gives a simple, clear explanation of general issues and his own health issues relating to Wi-Fi exposure. Updates at his website are good: Emf Radiation Protection – Protect Your Family From Emf Pollution (emfanalysis.com)
- EMF Home Inspection – What You Need To Know – ElectricSense
- EMF Practical Guide: The Simple Science of Protecting Yourself, Healing Chronic Inflammation, and Living a Naturally Healthy Life in our Toxic Electromagnetic World.: Burrell, Lloyd:: Amazon.com: Books
- Quick & Easy EMF Guide: 99 Tips to Lower Exposure to Harmful Electromagnetic Radiation – Includes Dangers of 5G & Smart Devices: Cadwallader MA, Lois, Cadwallader MBA, Bill: Amazon.com: Books
- EMF Sleep Disturbance, Health Effects & Pollution Protection Podcast – A personal story of a mom who reluctantly learned to reduce EMF exposure – and felt better.
Research papers
- Risks to Health and Well-Being From Radio-Frequency Radiation Emitted by Cell Phones and Other Wireless Devices This study highlights the growing concern regarding the risks to health from radio-frequency radiation (RFR) emitted by cell phones and wireless devices. It presents evidence of adverse health effects, including increased rates of Schwannomas, malignant gliomas, chromosomal DNA damage, potential harm to the developing brain in children, and sperm damage from having a cell phone next to the body.
- Oxidative stress and prevention of the adaptive response to chronic iron overload in the brain of young adult rats exposed to a 150 kilohertz electromagnetic field – PubMed (nih.gov)
- The effect of electromagnetic radiation emitted by display screens on cell oxygen metabolism – in vitro studies – PubMed (nih.gov)
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