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The influence of the call with a mobile phone on heart rate variability parameters in healthy volunteers.

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Andrzejak R, Poreba R, Poreba M, Derkacz A, Skalik R, Gac P, Beck B, Steinmetz-Beck A, Pilecki W. · 2008

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Cell phone calls measurably altered heart rhythm control in healthy volunteers, suggesting direct nervous system effects from phone radiation.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers monitored 32 healthy students' heart rhythms during 20-minute cell phone calls, measuring heart rate variability (how much your heart rate naturally fluctuates between beats). They found that phone calls significantly changed the participants' autonomic nervous system balance, increasing parasympathetic activity (the 'rest and digest' system) while decreasing sympathetic activity (the 'fight or flight' system). These changes returned to normal after the call ended, suggesting that cell phone radiation may directly affect the nervous system's control of heart function.

Why This Matters

This study adds important evidence to our understanding of how cell phone radiation affects the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary functions like heart rate, breathing, and digestion. The researchers found measurable changes in heart rate variability during phone calls that reversed afterward, suggesting a direct biological effect rather than just psychological stress from conversation. What makes this particularly significant is that heart rate variability is considered a key marker of cardiovascular health and autonomic nervous system function. While the authors acknowledge that speaking itself might contribute to these changes, the pattern of effects strongly suggests EMF influence on the nervous system's control of heart function. The reality is that these findings align with a growing body of research showing that cell phone radiation can affect autonomic nervous system balance, even at exposure levels considered safe by current regulations.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. Duration: 20 min

Study Details

The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of the call with a mobile phone on heart rate variability (HRV) in young healthy people.

The time and frequency domain HRV analyses were performed to assess the changes in sympathovagal bal...

During 20 min call with a mobile phone time domain parameters such as standard deviation of all norm...

Changes in heart rate variability during the call with a mobile phone could be affected by electromagnetic field but the influence of speaking cannot be excluded.

Cite This Study
Andrzejak R, Poreba R, Poreba M, Derkacz A, Skalik R, Gac P, Beck B, Steinmetz-Beck A, Pilecki W. (2008). The influence of the call with a mobile phone on heart rate variability parameters in healthy volunteers. Ind Health. 46(4):409-417, 2008.
Show BibTeX
@article{r_2008_the_influence_of_the_1832,
  author = {Andrzejak R and Poreba R and Poreba M and Derkacz A and Skalik R and Gac P and Beck B and Steinmetz-Beck A and Pilecki W.},
  title = {The influence of the call with a mobile phone on heart rate variability parameters in healthy volunteers.},
  year = {2008},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18716391/},
}
PubMed: 18716391

Cited By (100 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, research shows cell phone calls can temporarily change your heart rhythm patterns. A 2008 study found that 20-minute phone calls altered heart rate variability in healthy volunteers, affecting the balance between their 'rest and digest' and 'fight or flight' nervous systems during the call.
Phone radiation may influence heart function through the nervous system. The study demonstrated that electromagnetic fields from mobile phones changed autonomic nervous system activity, increasing parasympathetic tone while decreasing sympathetic activity during calls. These effects reversed after calls ended.
Cell phone use temporarily alters heart rhythm control but returns to normal afterward. Research on healthy volunteers showed significant changes in heart rate variability during 20-minute calls, though researchers couldn't separate electromagnetic effects from the physical act of speaking.
Cell phones appear to shift your nervous system toward a more relaxed state during calls. The study found increased parasympathetic activity (rest and digest response) and decreased sympathetic activity (fight or flight response) while people talked on their phones.
Current research suggests temporary changes in heart rhythm control rather than permanent damage. One study found altered heart rate variability during phone calls in healthy people, but these changes returned to baseline after calls ended, indicating reversible effects.