Most of the time, static electricity manifests in sudden, surprising sparks that catch us off guard. You feel a sudden jolt in your body due to a little shock you might have received from the metallic object or even another person’s body. That will make you jump but isn’t really such a rare phenomenon.
Let’s understand what static electricity in the body is, how it develops in our bodies, its symptoms and causes, and how to reduce it.
What is Static Electricity in the Body?
The static electricity in the body alludes to an electric charge developed on the outer layer of the skin and clothing. The human body is able to pick up excessive electrical charges from the environment. We feel the effect of static electricity when there is a breakdown of harmony between plus and minus charges. These evenly distributed charges may concentrate in excess at the locations where certain activities or states are in action.
What Causes Static Electricity to Build Up in the Body?
Static electricity in the body builds up over daily acts, primarily due to friction. Friction is an agent of transfer between electrons from various surfaces; in the process, it can accumulate electric charge and exert electrical pressure. Here are some common ways static electricity builds up:
Walking on Carpets
In this case, the sole comes into friction with the mostly synthetic carpet, resulting in the generation of static electricity. All this does is transfer electrons from the carpet into your body, hence creating an imbalance.
Clothing
Wearing synthetic fabrics like clothes made of polyester can easily cause a static buildup. When you rub against your clothes, mostly during dressing or undressing, electrons might get transferred to create static charges.
Dry Air
The static electricity exists in dry air, which usually tends to affect the winter air condition when it is less humid. Moisture in the air dissipates any electrical charge, and in the case of dry air, these charges can accumulate easily.
Running Electronic Devices
Running electronic devices one after another transfer static charges to our bodies. For example, laptops and phones can contribute to a great extent towards the development of static buildup.
Symptoms of Too Much Electricity in the Body
Experiencing static electricity is common but what are the symptoms of too much electricity in the body? The following are some signs that you might be experiencing an oversupply of static electricity:
Frequent Small Shocks
If you experience small shocks when you touch any object or people, this might happen to you in vast quantities of static electricity. Though such shocks could be jolting in nature, they are harmless.
Hair Standing on End
You may find your hair standing up after you take off your hat or sweater. This happens because the static charge repels the individual strands of hair from each other and will cause them to stand up.
Crackling Sounds
You might hear crackling sounds as you remove some clothes, especially those made from synthetic fabric. This is the sound of the static electricity getting discharged.
Small Sparks
You may even see small sparks when it’s dark, which will occur whenever your body is electrostatically charged, and then the static charge decides to jump from your body to the object creating a visible spark.
Is Static Electricity in the Body Good or Bad?
Generally, static electricity in the body does not cause any harm. However, frequent shocks can be a nuisance and can cause minor discomfort. In the rarest of cases, if you are working with flammable gases or materials, then a static electricity spark may be dangerous. Let’s break it into good and bad:
The Good
- Harmless in most cases: Static electricity is an irritation that most people put up with. The small shocks and other symptoms are harmless.
- Natural phenomenon: Static electricity occurs due to electron transfer and is, therefore, a natural occurrence. It is part of normal interchange between ourselves and the environment.
The Bad
- Irritating Shocks: Too much skin shock is a nuisance and mildly painful. One can react negatively to it, especially when not anticipating the shock.
- A Potential Danger: Static electricity can be dangerous in certain situations, though in very few isolated cases. For example, it can generate an electrical spark that will set off an explosion or a fire in case flammable gases are present, or for that matter, any other type of flammable elements in the vicinity.
How to Remove Static Energy from the Body?
Bring down the static energy in the body—there are quite a few easy ways to change your daily routine and keep it down. The ones to follow are a handful of those tips that help cut down on static electricity:
Humidifier
Adding some moisture in the air anyway reduces the build-up of static, and using a humidifier raises the humidity level in your home and dissolves the static charges.
Wear Natural Fibres
Wearing cotton or any material, as mentioned previously, in the environment will lead to minimal static being generated. So, stick to natural fibers and not synthetic ones to prevent the occurrence of static energy.
Use Anti-Static Sprays
Make use of anti-static sprays on clothes and carpets. They work by neutralising static charges caused by clothes, which are usually found at the store.
Ground Yourself
Touch something that is grounded metal object, such as metal pipe, before reaching to any electronic device.
Static Electricity and Health
While generally minor symptoms of too much electricity in the body, some may wonder if it can affect your health. At worst, static electricity is just a nuisance for most. However, if you do have a pacemaker or any other kind of electronic medical device, it would be best to play it safe and avoid the static solid electricity environments. Always consult your doctor if you have any concerns.
Conclusion
It simply means that static electricity in the human body is a normal condition and usually harmless. It can be a result of accumulating electrical charges from some everyday activities. Next time you feel that familiar zap, you will know what is happening and how to deal with it. Whether static electricity is good or bad depends on context, but for most people, it forms a minor part of everyday life.
