The Truth about EMFs- Is Your Trusty Mobile Messing with Your Sleep?
Jan 23, 2024
Sleep problems during perimenopause or menopause are extremely common.
In truth, they’re one of the biggest problems faced by my female clients who are desperate to look good and feel good with unshakable confidence.
Fluctuating hormone levels, stress and physical symptoms like night sweats are all factors that make a good night’s sleep much harder to achieve.
But there’s another possible culprit that could be lurking in the most inconspicuous of places- your mobile phone.
If you’re using your mobile phone before bed, you’re exposing yourself to EMFs and blue light which can affect the quality of your sleep and even cause further sleep disturbances.
In other words, it might be a good idea to keep your phone away from your pillow and limit screen time before bed if you want to feel rested, calm, energetic and think clearly.
Let me explain what these EMFs are, how they affect the quality of our sleep, what to look out for if you think you could be sensitive to EMFs and, most importantly, what you can do about it.
What are EMFs?
Electric Magnetic Fields, or EMFs are all around us in nature.
The sun emits these invisible electrical fields in the form of visible light. This light enters our eyes, travels to our brains and helps to regulate our circadian rhythms (sleep-wake cycles).
When the sun rises, we wake up and when the sun sets, we become more sleepy because of this natural light.
However, it’s not only the sun that emits these EMFs, and they’re not always innocuous.
Electrical power lines, indoor electric lighting, technology like mobile phones, computer screens, backlit eReaders, wireless routes and Bluetooth devices are all new artificial sources of these invisible electric fields and can trigger or worsen health problems.
Humans are electrical beings because the cells in our bodies connect and communicate through tiny electrical signals. Anything that interferes with these electrical signals can cause problems, whether this is physical injury, illness, toxins or EMFs.
Therefore, whenever we use one of these electrical devices, the EMFs emitted can interfere with our natural sleep-wake cycles and cause numerous other health problems like headaches, dizziness, fatigue, itchy skin, anxiety and depression.
In other words, use your mobile phone before bed, and you are much more likely to sleep poorly, wake up frequently during the night and feel unrested.
Considering that sleep disorders already affect 39% to 47% of perimenopausal women and 35% to 60% of postmenopausal women, this only makes matters worse.
If we want to enjoy a restful night’s sleep and feel energetic, we need to stop using our mobile phones (and backlit eReaders) before bed.
How do EMFs affect our sleep?
What happens when you use your mobile phone, watch your favourite TV show or read on a backlit eReader before bed? How come our sleep can be so profoundly affected? Let me explain…
#1. EMFs reduce your melatonin levels
Exposure to EMFs before bed can reduce our melatonin levels and make it harder to get a good night’s sleep, especially for menopausal women.
Melatonin is an essential hormone that is produced by our bodies when it gets dark outside and helps us fall asleep. When it becomes light, our melatonin levels decrease and we start to wake up.
In other words, exposure to natural EMFs helps regulate our sleep-wake cycles. That’s one of the many reasons why I recommend my clients spend at least 20-30 minutes per day enjoying natural daylight
In one study published in Shawn Stevenson’s bestselling book “Sleep Smarter”, researchers placed a small LED light under participants’ beds and noticed that although they didn’t feel like their sleep was affected, their heart rate, insulin levels and energy were significantly affected.
#2. EMFs reduce your REM sleep
When we are exposed to artificial light at night, it’s harder for our brain to move between sleep cycles and get the rest it needs.
We might wake up often, spend less time in restorative deep sleep or REM (dreaming) sleep and feel less rested, despite sleeping for the recommended 8 hours.
Surprisingly, REM sleep also helps with emotion and memory processing so if you don’t spend enough time in this sleep stage, you could feel less alert and struggle with your mental health.
#3. EMFs (and screens) keep your brain stimulated
Scrolling social media, watching your favourite series or even just messaging friends on your mobile phone before bed can feel like a restful activity. But it actually stimulates our brain activity and makes it much harder for us to drop off to sleep.
The EMFs these devices emit only make matters worse, suppressing our production of melatonin and making us feel more awake.
Am I sensitive to EMFs?
Do you think your sleep or health problems could be caused by EMFs? Believe that you could be sensitive to them?
Here are some key points to look out for:
- Are you suffering from sleep problems?
- Is your thyroid function not as it should be?
- Do you suffer from allergies?
- Are your perimenopause symptoms getting worse?
If so, you are likely sensitive to EMFs and should consider taking steps to protect yourself.
What can we do to protect ourselves from EMFs?
The good news is that it’s relatively easy to reduce our exposure to EMFs, tackle our perimenopause sleep problems, and support our overall health and wellbeing.
Let me share seven easy lifestyle tips that you can try tonight for better sleep.
- Turn off your router at night
- Move your bed away from any power outlets
- Avoid keeping your mobile in your bedroom
- Use Airplane mode whenever possible
- Spend at least 10-30 minutes outside every day
- Leave your device at home!
- Avoid screens at least two hours before bed
- Keep your phone 30-40 cm away from your body for safety
Summary
To quickly recap, EMFs (Electromagnetic Fields) emitted from your mobile device, television, backlit eReader, electric lights and other devices can worsen your sleep or health problems.
This is mainly because they affect our production of the essential sleep hormone melatonin, reduce the time we spend in restful REM sleep and keep our brains awake.
Follow the tips I’ve shared here such as avoiding screens for at least two hours before bed, turning off your router and getting outside into natural daylight.
Do this and your exposure to EMFs will reduce and your sleep will significantly improve for a rested, clear-thinking, energetic you!
Sick of struggling with poor sleep? Want to stop waking up throughout the night or far too early in the morning?
Contact me for a free, no-obligation consultation.
