What You Should Know About EMF and Fitness Trackers

For those who want to get in shape, a fitness watch is a handy device. Several models provide updates about fitness including activity levels. While you wear the device, it tracks activities such as steps, calories, and heartbeat rates. You’ll even find a gyroscope on some fitness watch products. The feature senses every movement whenever you run or walk. Furthermore, you can often connect the watch via Bluetooth to your phone.

However, there is a price for the convenience that comes with fitness watches. Once you activate the Bluetooth, it emits the electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation. This radiation exposure over long periods of time may be have harmful impact human health. It is a controversial subject and both sides have evidence to support their beliefs. The chance that EMF emissions maybe linked to many health conditions, including tumor growth, glioma, among others is enough to consider that the best solution to avoid this is to consider fitness trackers without bluetooth.

Electromagnetic Field (EMF) radiation and Bluetooth

First a bit more information about Bluetooth and EMF radiation. Health studies have established a link between EMF radiation and the health of humans. Again these studies are not without controversy. However, the long term effects and the nature of life today where devices like bluetooth are constantly on and near our bodies is reason to give some thought and consideration when making purchases

To balance all the doom and gloom, there are regulation for Bluetooth emissions, from government agencies. Many devices release levels below the recommended maximum levels. This must be balanced with the idea that even with government regulations factored in, there is a distinct lack of research on the cumulative long term effect of EMF radiation including Bluetooth.

Without such information, it is impossible to set a ‘safe’ level and guarantee it to be safe over the long term. Add to that the vast number of devices using Bluetooth around us, it only serves to further complicate an already controversial subject. They just don’t know for certain.

Fitness Trackers without Bluetooth

Understandably, there are those who love their fitness trackers and would not want to give them up. Luckily, there are solutions if you are concerned about the long term cumulative effects of bluetooth. You can purchase fitness trackers that come with no Bluetooth. Another option is to disable the Bluetooth feature, which is possible with some models. Below are some fitness tracker products worth considering:

Garmin Vivosmart HR

This model is a highly versatile fitness watch that allows you to deactivate the Bluetooth. At $80, Vivosmart HR is an affordable watch featuring calorie tracker, altimeter, step tracker, and vibration alerts. Whenever you take a step, the altimeter will record your movements while the alerts ensure that you stay active.

By pressing and holding the screen to show settings window, simply scroll to the Bluetooth option to deactivate it. From the viewpoint of EMF, Vivosmart is a great option as it doesn’t work with Wi-Fi. You only have to use the Bluetooth a few times daily to synchronize your watch with the brand’s app.

Samsung Gear Fit Pro 2

With a price tag of $130, it’s unsurprising to see Samsung Gear Fit Pro 2 offering multiple functionalities. The versatile fitness watch comes with a heart rate monitor, GPS tracker, water-resistant quality (up to 50 meters), and step tracker. More importantly, the device allows users to deactivate Bluetooth completely.

You can disable the Bluetooth by swiping left on the home screen to open the settings. Now, scroll to Bluetooth and disable by unchecking the marked box. If you want to sync your fitness watch with the app, enabling the Bluetooth or Wi-Fi once per day is enough.

Conclusion

Undoubtedly, fitness watches are useful technologies. However, the inherent risks of prolonged cumulative exposure to EMF should not be ignored. By using fitness trackers without Bluetooth, you can minimize the exposure risk. Alternatively, you should always deactivate the Bluetooth option when not in use. Hopefully, with further research, more developers will understand the significance of adding Bluetooth disable features.