From IT Expert to "Off-Feeling" and Back: My Personal Battle with Invisible Invaders

Listen now and be inspired to make positive changes in your EMF environment!

🎧 Tune in: https://danedeutsch.podbean.com/e/episode-033-the-hidden-health-hazards-of-smart-led-bulbs/

For over four decades, I’ve navigated the intricate world of information technology, thinking I understood every signal and current that makes our modern lives tick. Yet, for almost an entire year, I was plagued by something far more insidious: a constant "off-feeling" and debilitating dizziness that no amount of my extensive expertise could explain. It wasn't just dizziness; I experienced blurred vision, episodes of cross-eyed vision with blackouts, and even oily vision. Adding to my distress, I suffered from shortness of breath and persistent high blood pressure.

My quest for answers led me through six different doctors, countless appointments, and a battery of tests – CAT scans, ultrasounds, and comprehensive eye exams. And every single time, the results came back clear. There was no medical explanation for my profound and persistent symptoms, leaving me increasingly frustrated and desperate for relief. This wasn't just abstract science; it was my life, affecting my well-being and, frankly, my ability to live and lead effectively.

Then, by pure chance, a piece of information caught my ear while listening to a VLOG on EMF poisoning. They talked about smart LED bulbs emitting radiation even when the light itself was off. A flicker of recognition (no pun intended!) sparked within me. I immediately reached up to the smart LED bulb directly over my desk, less than 1.5 feet from where I spent much of my day. To my absolute astonishment, the bulb was notably warm to the touch, despite no light being on.

I removed that bulb, and the effect was nothing short of miraculous. I felt an immediate sense of profound relief. It’s been days since that discovery, and the dizziness is gone. My energy is back, and just today, I even went for a two-mile run again! This profoundly personal experience was all the proof I needed. I have since replaced every single smart bulb in my house with traditional incandescent light bulbs.

This journey, from enduring unexplained illness to finding a simple, yet life-changing solution, is why I've dedicated my latest podcast episode, "Episode 033: The Hidden Health Hazards of Smart LED Bulbs," to sharing this critical information. Because if it can happen to a seasoned IT expert like me, it can certainly happen to you.

The Unseen Invaders in Your Home: Smart LED Bulbs

We often embrace new technology for its convenience, and smart homes are no exception. But that convenience comes with an invisible cost. My personal experience clearly pointed to one of the most pervasive, yet overlooked, sources of exposure in our homes: smart LED bulbs.

Here’s what you might not know about these seemingly innocuous devices, and how they contributed to my debilitating symptoms:

• Constant Wireless Chattering (Beaconing): Even when you turn a smart LED bulb "off" via its app or a wall switch, it's very likely still powered on and continuously "beaconing"—sending out wireless signals on the 2.4 GHz frequency. Just like that warm bulb over my desk, it's acting as a miniature cell tower operating 24/7 inside your living space, constantly communicating to maintain its connection. This continuous, low-level radiofrequency (RF) radiation contributes significantly to your overall electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure.

• Dirty Electricity: Many smart bulbs, especially those that are cheaply made, introduce "dirty electricity" onto your home’s electrical wiring. This is high-frequency voltage noise that can interfere with other electronics and create electrical static riding your home's power lines.

• Invisible Flicker: Most modern LED and LCD lighting uses a technique called pulse-width modulation (PWM) to dim the light. This creates rapid, high-frequency flickering that, while often imperceptible to the naked eye, is still registered by your brain and nervous system. This invisible flicker can lead to headaches, eye strain, blurred vision, dizziness, and even stress your autonomic nervous system, contributing to anxiety and elevated cortisol. This constant, unperceived stress was certainly a factor in my year-long malaise and visual disturbances.

• Blue Light Overload: LED bulbs are rich in blue light (in the 400–490 nm range). Excessive exposure to blue light, especially in the evening, can suppress your body's natural melatonin production, disrupting your sleep patterns. Melatonin isn't just for sleep; it's vital for heart health, reducing inflammation, and fighting oxidative stress. Chronic blue light exposure can contribute to elevated nighttime cortisol, increased resting heart rate, and higher blood pressure—all symptoms I personally experienced.

When you combine these factors – constant RF emissions, dirty electricity, invisible flicker, and blue light overload – from multiple smart devices throughout your home, you create a compounding stress on your body's systems, even if you don't realize it, just like I didn't.

Broader Health Impacts: Beyond Just the Bulbs

My year-long battle with inexplicable symptoms, which doctors couldn't diagnose despite extensive testing, is a classic example of Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS), where self-reported symptoms are directly linked to EMF sources. EHS, also known as idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF), often presents with a wide array of symptoms that conventional medicine struggles to pinpoint, including headaches, fatigue, sleep disturbances, brain fog, memory issues, poor concentration, skin tingling or burning sensations, muscle pain, dizziness, cardiac arrhythmia or chest discomfort, and vision and hearing irregularities. These symptoms can appear rapidly upon exposure and linger for hours or days, depending on the strength and duration of the exposure.

Our overall exposure to electromagnetic fields from Wi-Fi, smartphones, smart meters, and other wireless technologies can manifest in a wide range of health concerns that undermine our energy, focus, and ability to lead fulfilling lives:

• Neurological and Cognitive Effects: EMF exposure has been linked to changes in brain electrical impulses, alterations to the blood-brain barrier (which protects your brain from toxins), and shifts in chemical levels affecting mental health and memory. Symptoms frequently reported include headaches, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, and dizziness – exactly what I experienced.

• Sleep and Mood Disruption: Beyond blue light, EMFs can directly interfere with melatonin production, leading to poor sleep quality and quantity. This can result in chronic fatigue, heightened anxiety, irritability, and even depression—all of which severely impact your capacity for character-driven leadership.

• Cellular Damage and Disease Risk: Research indicates that EMF radiation can induce oxidative stress and even mutate or fragment DNA in cells. This cellular damage is a concern for long-term health, with studies suggesting potential links to certain cancers and a weakened immune system.

• Reproductive Health Concerns: For men, EMF exposure has been associated with reduced sperm count and motility, and increased DNA fragmentation. In women, there's a suggested link to increased miscarriage rates and changes in infant growth metrics, highlighting the vulnerability of developing tissues.

• Vulnerable Populations: Children are particularly susceptible to the effects of EMFs because their skulls are thinner, their brain tissue is more absorbent, and their nervous systems are still developing. Early-life exposure has been linked to slowed growth, asthma, autism, obesity, ADHD, and behavioral issues. Pregnant women, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions or EHS are also at higher risk.

Taking Charge: How to Create a Healthier EMF Environment

My year-long battle with inexplicable symptoms and the swift relief I felt after removing just one smart LED bulb taught me a powerful lesson: a truly character-driven leader takes proactive steps to protect their well-being and the well-being of those they lead, including their family. You don't need to live in a Faraday cage, but you can make informed choices to significantly reduce your EMF exposure.

Here are practical, actionable strategies you can implement today, many of which I've adopted myself:

• Limit Wireless Device Use & Maximize Distance: Use speakerphone or wired/air tube headphones for calls. Keep laptops, tablets, and phones off your body. Remember, distance is your friend—the further you are from a source, the less intense the exposure.

• Turn Off Devices When Not in Use: Power down your Wi-Fi router, Bluetooth devices, and smartphones at night or when you're not actively using them. Consider using airplane mode when connectivity isn't needed, especially in bedrooms.

• Prioritize Wired Connections: Wherever possible, use Ethernet cables instead of Wi-Fi for computers, gaming consoles, and smart TVs. This dramatically reduces RF radiation in your home.

• Audit Your Lighting (My #1 Game Changer!): Replace Smart LED Bulbs: As I did in my own home, I strongly recommend replacing smart LEDs, especially in critical areas like bedrooms and workspaces, with traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs. These emit no RF radiation, dirty electricity, or flicker, and provide a warmer, more natural light spectrum.Choose Wisely for Other LEDs: If you must use LEDs, opt for those labeled "flicker-free" with a high Color Rendering Index (CRI of 90+) and a warm color temperature (2700K–3000K) to minimize blue light and flicker stress.Turn Off At the Switch: For any smart bulbs you keep, ensure they are physically turned off at the wall switch to cut power completely, preventing beaconing.

• Address Smart Home Devices: For smart thermostats, cameras, and appliances, investigate wired alternatives. If wireless is unavoidable, ensure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functions are deactivated if you're using an Ethernet connection.

• Consider EMF Shielding: For sensitive areas or if you live near cell towers or smart meters, look into EMF-blocking paints, wallpapers, or shielding fabrics for windows and beds. Specialized covers for smart meters can also help. (Products like DefenderShield offer various shielding solutions for phones, laptops, and the body, including blankets, hats, and scarves, as well as blue light glasses and Faraday bags for blocking signals.)

• Support Your Body's Resilience: Beyond environmental changes, nourish your body's natural defense mechanisms. Focus on nervous system regulation, calming inflammation, supporting mitochondrial function, and optimizing detoxification pathways. Things like getting outside barefoot ("earthing"), practicing mindfulness, and ensuring good nutrition all play a role.

My personal journey from an IT expert confidently navigating technology to a person suffering from unexplained health issues, and then finding profound relief through a simple, informed change, has been transformative. It has reinforced my belief that protecting my health from these invisible invaders is a vital act of self-leadership.

Join me on Character-Driven Life & Leadership and discover how making informed choices about EMFs can enhance your focus, restore your energy, and safeguard your health, enabling you to live and lead with greater vitality and purpose.

Listen now and be inspired to make positive changes in your EMF environment!

🎧 Tune in: https://danedeutsch.podbean.com/e/episode-033-the-hidden-health-hazards-of-smart-led-bulbs/

I sincerely hope this newsletter is a bright light for those of you out there who might be experiencing unknown symptoms like I had.

To Your Health....Trike On!

Coach Dane