Understanding Microwave Syndrome: Is 5G Making Us Sick?

In recent years, the deployment of 5G technology has sparked both excitement and concern. It promises faster internet speeds and a more connected world, but not all the buzz around 5G is positive. Across the globe, people are starting to worry about the potential health risks that come along with this increased exposure to EMFs, specifically radiofrequency (RF) radiation. One condition that has been getting more attention is "microwave syndrome," a set of symptoms experienced by people exposed to RF radiation like that from 5G.

Recently, seven Swedish case reports highlighted the symptoms of microwave syndrome in people living near 5G base stations and the health problems they experienced after 5G was turned on in their neighborhoods. Let’s take a look at what they discovered.

Microwave syndrome isn’t a new term. It’s been around for decades, and it refers to a set of symptoms people have reported after being exposed to RF radiation (or microwaves), even at “non-thermal” levels, meaning levels that don’t cause heating of the tissue. The kind of RF exposure we’re talking about here is way below the limits set by health and safety organizations like the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The problem? These limits only look at thermal effects—the heating up of tissues—not the other, more subtle effects that might be happening. Not to mention, the FCC hasn’t updated their guidelines since 1996, long before 5G was even a thought.

Many experts are starting to think that these limits are outdated and don’t really protect us from long-term exposure to low-level radiation. Even though the World Health Organization (WHO) backs these standards, some have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest since organizations like the GSM Association and Mobile Manufacturer’s Forum—connected to the telecom industry—have been involved in the research.

RF (radiofrequency) radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation that comes from things like cell phones, Wi-Fi routers, and radio towers. It's a form of non-ionizing radiation, which is the “non-dangerous” kind. However, RF radiation still generates electromagnetic fields (EMFs), which can penetrate the body. While the levels of RF radiation from everyday devices are generally considered safe, there's ongoing debate and research into whether long-term exposure could be leading to health issues.

As people are looking for ways to mitigate their risk from RF-EMF exposure, many have found peace-of-mind with EMF protection like the Aires Tech Lifetune devices. These portable, passive devices are easy to take anywhere, requiring no battery, no charging, no fuss!

The report focuses on seven different case studies, involving 16 people ranging in age from 4 to 83, who started developing health issues after 5G base stations were installed near their homes. The most common symptoms these people experienced were related to their nervous system, such as:

• Trouble sleeping

• Fatigue

• Headaches

• Increased anxiety or irritability

• Difficulty concentrating

These symptoms came on shortly after the 5G towers went up. On top of the nervous system issues, about half of the participants also reported heart problems, breathing difficulties, and even skin issues. Some people also had problems with digestion, urinary issues, and ear discomfort, though those were less common.

For many of these people involved in the study, the symptoms started fast - we’re talking within days of the 5G towers being turned on. In three of the case studies, things got so bad that people had to leave their homes just a week after the symptoms hit. One family of five (including three kids) developed serious symptoms while on vacation in an area with 5G. As soon as they went back home to a place without 5G, their symptoms disappeared. In almost all cases, moving to an area with less RF radiation brought immediate relief.

These findings align with what’s been seen in previous studies on people who’ve been exposed to RF radiation at work, especially in countries like Russia and Eastern Europe. People in those studies reported similar nervous system-related issues. The good news is - their health typically improved once they stopped being exposed to high levels of RF radiation—although the time it took for recovery varied from person to person.

One interesting thing the report noted was how differently people reacted to RF radiation. Some people seemed to be more sensitive than others, which made it hard to pin down a one-size-fits-all explanation for how much exposure is “too much.” Plus, since this report is based on just 16 people, it’s hard to generalize these findings to the entire population.

The report did suggest, however, that people living closest to the 5G towers (and therefore getting higher doses of RF radiation) generally had worse symptoms than those farther away. 

Interestingly, the symptoms tied to 5G exposure aren’t much different from what’s been reported near older cell towers, like those for 2G, 3G, and 4G. Studies from as far back as the early 2000s found that people living near these towers reported similar symptoms: sleep disturbances, headaches, dizziness, and heart issues. The big difference with 5G seems to be the level of RF radiation. It’s a lot higher than what was measured around older towers.

So, does 5G pose more of a health risk than earlier technologies? The case studies in this report suggest it might. The symptoms these people experienced, which line up with the “microwave syndrome” of decades ago, appeared soon after 5G base stations were installed. And in many cases, the symptoms went away after the people affected left areas with heavy 5G exposure.

While the report’s findings aren’t definitive, especially with such a small sample size, the fact that these symptoms showed up at radiation levels below what’s considered “safe” according to current standards is concerning. It raises questions about whether the guidelines we’re relying on are enough to protect us from the effects of EMFs - specifically RF radiation

The rollout of 5G is happening fast. While there are plenty of benefits to this technology, we need to ask ourselves whether enough is being done to understand its potential health impacts. More research is definitely needed to figure out just how harmful long-term exposure to 5G might be. In the meantime, people who suspect they’re experiencing microwave syndrome could consider moving to areas with less RF radiation, limiting their exposure as much as possible, and investing in EMF protection devices.

This report acts as a bit of a wake-up call. It’s a reminder that while technology advances rapidly, our understanding of its potential side effects needs to keep pace. We need to push for updated safety standards to account for non-thermal health effects, not just heating effects that were used to set the guidelines decades ago.

As we move forward, we need to keep asking the tough questions about how these advancements impact our health. Because, as these case studies show, some people are already feeling the effects.