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‘Last July, out of the blue I developed a disruption to my heart
rhythm. As a qualified Doctor I considered possible causes, such as caffeine intake, tiredness, high blood
pressure, or the onset of menopausal symptoms. Being slight of frame, with normal to low blood pressure and
excellent general health, I reasoned the ectopic beats and variable pulse rate would probably go away with a
reduction in my tea and coffee, and a little rest. Over the next 6 weeks, the arrhythmia continued to the
point where I was aware of it for the majority of the day. I also experienced disturbance to my sleep,
waking in the early hours and then being unable to fall asleep again. From the tightness of my upper chest
I knew I was not getting enough oxygen.
‘I was very reluctant to consult my GP, aware of the
investigations it would initiate, and also of the many drugs in the armoury for treating arrhythmias with their
multitude of side effects. There was no precipitating factor I could identify that would afflict a fit 49
year old, with no pre-existing heart or respiratory problems, in this way.
‘On the verge of making an appointment with my GP, I linked the
onset of my symptoms to our acquisition of a laptop with a wireless modem (NET GEAR and is a Wireless ADSL Modem
Gateway DG824M) situated in the hallway. This "base station" had been transmitting microwaves 24
hours/day at a frequency of 2.4GHz, extending to a radius of 150 feet. These (and similar) are being
placed in the foyers of airports, and hotels, in GP's surgeries, coffee shops and student halls of residence, so
individuals can use their laptops with the minimum of fuss.
‘We disconnected the wireless base station, replacing it with a
fixed line. Within 3 weeks I was totally free of any abnormality as detected by pulse or symptoms, my sleep
settled back to normal, as did my energy.
‘On consideration, during the summer others in my family of 5 have
been abnormally fatigued with disturbed sleep patterns. My 18 year old daughter had an episode of extreme
dizziness lasting a whole day after close contact with the transmitter. My 22 year old son similarly
experienced vomiting and vertigo, disabling him for a day after spending 2 hours within feet of the apparatus.
‘If this is how it affects a healthy family of adults over a short
period of time, what will be the consequences on a cross-section of the general population, let alone those with
heart problems or pacemakers, the pregnant and the young? What is the real price of convenience?’
F Fox MB ChB |
