Heavy metals toxicity has been an intriguing subject for decades. Some toxic metals including zinc, iron, vanadium, copper, and strontium are all essential for good health if taken in moderate amounts. Some toxic metals can cause severe illnesses, depending on the amount of exposure. These non-essential metals include mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium, and chromium.
Causes of heavy metal toxicity
There are several sources that can cause toxicity including water supply, environment, hobbies and more. Therefore, it is essential to know about a person’s workplace and living habitat in order to narrow down possible sources of heavy metals. For instance, arsenic toxicity is obtained from some linseed oils and drinking water.
Symptoms of heavy metal toxicity
There are several toxic metals (lead, mercury and arsenic), which have different symptoms of toxicity. The common symptoms of heavy metal toxicity are gastrointestinal upset, allergies, headaches, pain in joints and muscles, vision problems, short-term memory loss and chronic fatigue. It is very difficult to diagnose heavy metal toxicity based on symptoms these symptoms alone.
Lead
Lead poisoning symptoms include hypertension, abdominal pain, cognitive disorders, depression of adrenal and thyroid glands, nausea, fatigue, weight loss, gout, hemolytic anemia, and chronic renal failure. Someone suffering from lead poisoning will often have a combination of these symptoms. In addition, there are some mental symptoms, which include anxiety, insomnia, confusion, irritability and delusions.
Mercury
Mercury poisoning is associated with various things like mercury dental filings. Symptoms of mercury poisoning include excessive salivation, kidney and stomach troubles, tremors, metallic taste in mouth, tremors. Furthermore, the mental symptoms include psychosis, shyness, anorexia, apathy, irritability, depression, and mental deterioration.
Arsenic
Arsenic poisoning symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, excessive salivation, garlic odor on the breath, mental impairment, paralysis and hyperkeratosis (increased pigmentation of soles and palm) and limb paralysis. Mental symptoms include anorexia, apathy and dementia.
Treatment and preventive measures of heavy metal toxicity
The first step in treating heavy metal toxicity is to identify various toxic elements and understand the removal process for each. The easiest screening method is hair analysis in which a small amount of hair is taken from the nape of the neck and a computerized test is performed to determine the mineral content.
However, intake of certain chelating drugs and a 24-hour urine collection also helps to determine the level of heavy metal present in the body. For most patients, mineral infusions and intravenous Vitamin C is recommended to assist the body during the toxic metal removal process.
