Physicians for Safe Technology

Wireless Technology and Public Health

Cardiac Effects of Radiofrequency Radiation

Updated  11/26/22

Scientific Literature

Cardiovascular Effects of Radio frequency Radiation

Radio frequency radiation (RFR) from wireless devices passes through the body and can affect many organs. A mechanism of injury has been documented in the basic science literature to be related to calcium channels and the creation of reactive oxygen species, or free radicals, which damage DNA, lipids and proteins.   Research is limited on non-ionizing radiation on the cardiovascular system but studies have shown evidence of  changes in autonomic function with a cell phone radiation or Wi Fi router radiation, including heart rhythm, blood pressure and catecholamine efficacy on the heart. Turedi (2015) looked at prenatal exposure to cell phone radiation in rat pups. They found “swelling in the mitochondria, degeneration in myofibrils and structural impairments” with histopathologic evidence of oxidative stress.

Is Wireless Radiation an Emerging Environmental Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease?

Cardiac disease remains the number one cause of death globally according to the Who. An Australian study by Vernon (2017) examined cardiac disease and Standard Modifiable Cardiovascular Risk Factors (SMCVRF). The researchers found a significant rise in the proportion of STEMI (ST elevation myocardial infarction) patients with poor or no association to modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. In these patients there was a reduction of cholesterol and smoking, and with no change in hypertension or diabetes. They called for new approaches to explain this.

Bandara and Weller (2017) responded by publishing seminal paper, “Cardiovascular disease: Time to identify emerging environmental risk factors“, in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology. They point out the strong and growing evidence that radiofrequency radiation from wireless devices can negatively affect normal functioning of cellular processes throughout the body via oxidation/inflammation pathways.  Starting with military studies that clearly showed cardiovascular effects they end with a review of 242 studies on RFR and oxidative stress noting, “A staggering 216 (89%) of them found significant effects”.

It is well known that oxidative stress is associated with inflammation and cardiovascular disease. To improve the outcome for cardiac patients the researchers add, “As for recovery from STEMI, restoration of myocardial perfusion can be compromised by changes of endothelial integrity, platelet aggregation, neutrophil infiltration and inflammation after an acute thrombotic coronary occlusion. At a cellular level, these processes are controlled by redox mechanisms/signalling pathways and therefore, actively reducing exposure to RF-EMR warrants consideration as part of post-STEMI patient management. Indeed, we require high quality clinical studies to investigate if such an approach is effective.” They also highlight the widespread ignorance of physicians in this matter.

Cardiac Tumors and an Aging Heart

The National Toxicology Program on Cell Phones and Cancer study completed in 2018 revealed not only clear evidence of cardiac tumors and DNA damage but also histopathologic changes in the heart consistent with aging. This is consistent with the toxic oxidative effects seen in laboratory studies. See NTP Technical Report.

Heart Palpitations and Electrosensitivity

Electrosensitivity  is an acute symptom complex in some 3% of individuals who experience heart palpitations, headaches, nausea, irritability which occur in the presence a cell phone, Wi Fi router, cell tower or other wireless devices. This appears related to multiple chemical sensitivity with common inflammatory biomarkers identified. (Belpomme 2015) . Electrosensitivity (also known as electrohypersensitivity, EHS or microwave illness) symptoms were highlighted in a NASA document ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD INTERACTIONS WITH THE HUMAN BODY: OBSERVED EFFECTS AND THEORIES 1981.   Electrosensitivity along with multiple chemical sensitivity is now being recognized by the United States Access Board as a disability “under the ADA if they so severely impair the neurological, respiratory or other functions of an individual that it substantially limits one or more of the individual’s major life activities.” Although they have not yet ruled on it they did create recommendations including “that a project be organized to develop guidelines for the design of an “ideal space” for people with MCS and EMS”   Dr. Ann Lee, former physician at the Stanford Traumatic Brain Tumor Unit, and her son testify in Sacramento, California about her son’s electrosensitivity  with heart palpitations in the presence of Wi Fi routers and Antenna.

A pilot study by the Weston Price Foundation in 2015 looked at the effects of cell phone radiation using live blood analysis under the microscope of  healthy young volunteers on a whole food Weston A Price Foundation diet, “WAPF ” diet, versus  controls. In both groups they observed abnormal red blood cell aggregation during and after short term cell phone use.

See also

Published Papers

Related Articles on Cardiovascular Disease

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