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Clinical Reference · Plate 02

Symptomatic presentation of Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity by body system

EHS presents as a multi-system syndrome. Reported symptoms cluster within the central nervous, cardiovascular, dermatological, and autonomic systems — consistent with the condition's proposed neuro-inflammatory mechanism.

Body Systems Affected
8major
Population Prevalence
3–6%moderate
Severe Presentation
0.5%self-reported
View
Anterior
Fig. 1 · Anterior view with organ reference PLATE 02
BRAIN · CNS OCULAR AUDITORY RESPIRATORY CARDIAC RENAL HEPATIC GASTRIC INTESTINAL DERMAL 0 30cm
H. Sapiens · Adult Scale 1 : 6
Clinical Findings

Reported symptoms by organ system

Hover any region of the anatomical figure or a card below to cross-reference. Severity ratings reflect aggregated patient-reported outcome data from EUROPAEM and ANSES clinical reviews (2016–2023).

Cerebral / Neurological
Central Nervous System · CNS
High · Primary
  • Headache & migraine
  • Dizziness / vertigo
  • Cognitive impairment ("brain fog")
  • Short-term memory deficits
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Sleep-onset insomnia
  • Confusion / disorientation
  • Sensitivity to light & sound
MechanismProposed blood-brain barrier permeability changes and altered neuronal calcium signalling under non-thermal RF exposure.
Ocular
Visual System
Moderate
  • Burning / stinging eyes
  • Blurred or transient vision
  • Photophobia
  • Dry-eye syndrome
  • Floaters / visual disturbance
MechanismCorneal thermal sensitivity and tear-film instability reported in controlled RF provocation studies.
Auditory
Vestibulocochlear System
Moderate
  • Tinnitus (continuous ringing)
  • Ear pressure / fullness
  • Hyperacusis
  • Vertigo on exposure
  • Subjective hearing shifts
MechanismPossible cochlear microphonic alteration; vestibular nucleus hypersensitivity reported.
Cardiovascular
Cardiac & Vascular System
High · Primary
  • Palpitations / arrhythmia
  • Tachycardia at rest
  • Chest tightness
  • Labile blood pressure
  • Peripheral vasomotor changes
MechanismAutonomic dysregulation; sympathetic overactivity demonstrated via HRV analysis in symptomatic cohorts.
Respiratory
Pulmonary System
Low
  • Shortness of breath
  • Upper airway irritation
  • Chest wall discomfort
MechanismAutonomic influence on bronchial smooth muscle; inflammatory co-factors under investigation.
Gastrointestinal
Digestive System
Moderate
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal cramping
  • Altered bowel habit
  • Loss of appetite
  • Bloating / distension
MechanismGut-brain axis involvement; vagal modulation and altered motility in provocation studies.
Dermatological
Integumentary System
Moderate
  • Erythema (facial flushing)
  • Burning / prickling sensations
  • Tingling & paresthesia
  • Contact-point rashes
  • Dermatographia on RF exposure
MechanismCutaneous mast-cell activation and sensory C-fibre sensitisation documented in provocation studies.
Peripheral / Autonomic
Peripheral & Autonomic Nervous System
High
  • Anxiety / mood disturbance
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Muscle weakness
  • Fine tremor
  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • Thermoregulatory shifts
MechanismDysautonomia with elevated sympathetic tone; elevated serum biomarkers (Hsp70, nitrotyrosine) reported.

§ 01 · Exposure

EHS is triggered by environmental radiofrequency and extremely-low-frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields at non-thermal intensities — typically 0.001–10 V/m — well below current ICNIRP thermal safety thresholds.

§ 02 · Neurobiology

Proposed mechanisms centre on voltage-gated calcium channel hyperactivation, oxidative stress, and blood-brain-barrier permeability alteration. Evidence is contested but reproducible in animal and in-vitro models.

§ 03 · Presentation

Symptom onset typically occurs within minutes to hours of exposure and resolves in a low-EMF environment. Case-defined diagnosis requires exclusion of other conditions per EUROPAEM 2016 Guideline.