In today's futuristic world of high-tech gadgets and gizmos, the idea of being 'allergic' to electricity is a truly terrifying one. While there have been some fictionalized accounts of electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), it's a very real condition that affects a growing number of people.
Back in 2015, French woman Marine Richard won a landmark case that awarded her €800 a month in disability payments. Richard moved to a barn in the mountains of south-west France, living without electricity and away from all mod cons.
Despite former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland also once being the Director General of the World Health Organization, the WHO doesn't recognize EHS as a medical diagnosis or disease. The WHO still estimates that 3% of the world's population could be suffering from EHS, with places like Italy and the United Kingdom potentially rising to 4% of the population.
Typical symptoms include headaches, nausea, fatigue, and palpitations.
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EHS sufferers are called sentinels because they potentially feel today what could become a widespread phenomenon in the future.
Photographer Claudia Gori even did a fascinating shoot and research on these sentinels.
It's a condition that inspired the character of Chuck McGill in Better Call Saul. Michael McKean portrayed Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman's older brother in the first three seasons, with some critics arguing he gave the best TV performance of 2017.
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A 2015 article from The Guardian looked at the health risks of EHS and how it inspired the creation of Chuck. The piece from Dr. James Rubin and Professor Sir Simon Wessely of King's College London's department of psychological medicine explains how studies suggest that while symptoms can manifest in real life, there's little evidence to suggest they're caused by electromagnetic fields.
It's thought to be part of the nocebo effect, working as the opposite of the placebo effect.
Having been reported for centuries, a nocebo effect causes patients to feel unwell when they think they've been exposed to something hazardous.
There are some very real concerns for the general public, especially considering a 2010 survey of 26,602 European citizens reported that 70% of those asked believed that mobile phone masts can affect their health.
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The Guardian conducted an experiment where people watched a clip from a 2007 Panorama documentary that reported on the dangers of Wi-Fi or a simple film about internet data security.
The Panorama piece was criticized at the time for 'exaggerating' claims, but for the group who were shown that clip, they were more likely to develop symptoms – especially if they were already anxious.
It's the media that's accused of hyping up the symptoms of causes of EHS, with Better Call Saul being a double-edged sword by raising awareness but also causing panic among some.
Still, considering Chuck is the first known character on film or TV to be affected by EHS, it was praised as a tactful and important portrayal.
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While Chuck McGill's condition was thankfully just a fictional one, spare a thought for the likes of Marine Richard.