8 Tips to Prevent EMF Sleep Disturbance

bedroom electrical pollution emf lighting sleep Aug 22, 2017
 

We all know how important it is to get a good night's sleep. It gives our bodies the chance to restore for the next day ahead. But did you know that EMFs (electromagnetic field) in the bedroom can challenge your quality of sleep?

EMF sleep disturbance could be something you are suffering from without you even knowing it. In this article, we'll discuss how EMFs in your bedroom affect your sleep and 8 tips to create a healthier sleep environment.

What's Happening With Your Body When You're Sleeping?

When you sleep, your immune system does its major repair work. Your body’s cells regenerate, rejuvenate, detoxify, and your pineal gland produces melatonin. 

The pineal gland is a small endocrine gland in the vertebrate brain. It helps to regulate sleep and contributes to many vital bodily processes.

Poor sleep undermines the ability of your cells and organs to perform these processes, and healthy cells can be damaged. Unhealthy cells can proliferate, leading to infections, mutations, and neural disorders. If your sleep space is not conducive to the deep sleep phase, your immune system can become overburdened and you’ll be more likely to get sick.

Studies show that exposures to EMFs can impede the production of melatonin and affect the body’s circadian rhythmEMF exposures in the bedroom can undermine sleep cycles and cause many ailments and symptoms such as:

  • Irritation of allergies
  • Tiredness upon awakening
  • Heart palpitations
  • Muscle pain and weakness
  • Weaken your immune system

For more information about EMF exposure symptoms: EHS Symptoms from EMF Exposure

8 Tips to Lower EMFs in Your Bedroom 

As we've just described, reducing your bedroom's EMFs can promote improved sleep quality and help your body repair itself. Below are 8 useful tips to prevent EMF sleep disturbance.

1. Manage Cell Phones in Your Bedroom

Switch off your cell phones (or, at a minimum, turn your cell phone to airplane mode) in the bedroom at night. Otherwise, it will generate EMFs while you sleep, which can cause EMF sleep disturbance.

Switched on cell phones can disrupt your sleep pattern and undermine your immune system. So try to keep it outside your bedroom.

More information: Tips to reduce cell phone EMF exposure

2. Don't Keep Cordless Phones, and Other Wireless Devices, in Your Bedroom

Replace cordless telephones in your bedroom with a wired (landline) phone. Remove wireless baby monitors and wireless speakers from the bedroom as these also emit EMFs.

3. Check the Lighting in Your Bedroom

Avoid exposing yourself to bright lights in the two hours before you sleep. Exposures of this kind can disturb your natural sleep pattern and may create long term harm. Studies have shown exposure to artificial light can also increase cancer risk.

Get rid of CFLs (compact fluorescent lightbulbs) from the bedroom; these emit electromagnetic radiation as a byproduct of the energy saving mechanism used to reduce voltage. Use candescent bulbs instead.

4. Check Electrical Devices in Your Bedroom

Unplug all electronics during sleeping hours, especially those near your bed. 

Wired electrical devices are one of the most important but overlooked elements in sleep disturbance. They emit surprisingly strong electrical fields, even when turned off. 

It's recommend to keep TVs, stereos, air conditioning units, and refrigerators at least 6 feet away. These are common devices that all contribute to EMFs in your room.

For those more serious about hacking EMFs, you can turn off the power supply on the circuit breaker for your bedroom before sleeping.

More information:  The EMF level from appliances in your home

5. WiFi in Your Home

A wireless router transmits a radio frequency signal that adds to your toxic load and interferes with your ability to sleep properly.

Using a wired internet connection is the best way to hack WiFi in your home. Another great alternative is to keep your router on a timer so it is turned off overnight.

See more information: Tips to protect ourselves from EMF Wifi

6. Electrical Pollution Outside Your Home

If you live close to your neighbors, their electrical pollution can be a factor too. Have a friendly chat with your neighbor and take an RF meter with you so you can show them the radiation levels they are also exposed to. We suggest taking some printouts of the studies done on the dangers of radio frequency radiation to back up your concerns.

7. EMFs from Cell Phone Towers

Cell phone towers are among the strongest sources of EMFs so precautions should be taken if a tower is located near your home. Seriously consider hiring a qualified EMF expert to check the levels of EMFs in your home and bedroom. Alternatively, you can buy an EMF meter to assess your home yourself but these assessments are not intuitive and should be conducted and interpreted by a trained professional.

If levels are high, then consider using EMF blocking curtains or shielding paint for your bedroom.

8. Your Mattress

The magazine Scientific American published a shocking article that suggests our mattresses can act as giant antennas due to our bed's size and the metal springs inside.

For both comfort and radio wave exposure, you should consider upgrading your mattress to one without metal springs. A chemical-free organic mattress and wood headboards are ideal.

For more information, read our post: Can Your Mattress Cause Insomnia?

 

Your Bedroom: Healing Sanctuary or Mission Control?

Your bedroom should be a healing sanctuary, not a place that robs you of the rest your body requires for optimum health.

Analyze your use of electronics carefully and take the necessary precautions. If you have a specific question, don't hesitate to reach out to us. 

If you'd like to learn more about the impact of EMFs in all other aspects of your life, try our 21-Day Digital Detox program. Here you will learn how to manage your exposure to EMFs and improve your wellbeing.

Stay connected with nontoxic lifestyle news and updates!

Receive our free Ruan Living Nontoxic Cleaning Guide when you join our email list.
Don't worry, your information will not be shared.

We hate SPAM. We will never sell your information, for any reason.

About Ruan Living

Ruan Living simplifies a nontoxic lifestyle through its Practical Nontoxic Living podcast, free detox workshops, online D-Tox Academy, and transformative 40-Day Home Detox. It aims to help you avoid toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from what you buy, own, and do— without compromising your joy and convenience. Ruan was founded by Sophia Ruan Gushée, author of the bestselling critically acclaimed book A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Your Toxic Exposures and several detox workbooks. A graduate of Brown University and Columbia Business School, Sophia has served on the Brown University School of Public Health Advisory Council and Well+Good Council. A popular nontoxic living speaker, consultant, and teacher, Sophia lives in New York City with her husband and three daughters. Her passion for empowering others to enjoy nontoxic living began with the birth of her first daughter in 2007. Everything she creates is a love letter to her children and for the healthiest, brightest future possible. You can learn more here: Sophia’s Impact.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only. This information is provided “as is” without warranty.

It is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. We do not offer medical advice, course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other opinion on your conditions or treatment options. To the extent that this article features the advice of physicians or medical practitioners, the views expressed are the views of the cited expert and do not necessarily represent the views of Ruan Living.

In no event will Sophia Ruan Gushee or Ruan Living be liable for any damages or loss of any kind resulting from the use of this website. Anyone relying upon or making use of the information on this website does so at his or her own risk.

Some of the services and products recommended on this website provide compensation to Sophia Ruan Gushee or Ruan Living. All recommendations are based foremost upon an honest belief that the product, service, or site will benefit our site visitors in some way.  

Detox Your Inbox

Easy tips, podcasts, workshops, updates, and more!

SIGN UP

For You

40-Day Home Detox

Book

Blog

D-Tox Academy

Engage

Podcast

Shop

Ruan Living

Our Mission

Sophia Ruan Gushée

Corporate Wellness

D-Tox Academy

Engage

Events

Press

Testimonials

Stay In Touch

[email protected]