The buildup of specific metals in the body as a result of exposure through food, water, industrial chemicals, or other sources leads to heavy metal poisoning.
Some heavy metals, like zinc, copper, chromium, iron, and manganese, are necessary in small amounts for your body to function effectively, but poisonous levels are dangerous.
These toxins can poison your body if they build up in your soft tissues for an extended period of time.
The type of metal that is poisonous determines the symptoms of heavy metal poisoning, and the type of metal you were exposed to also affects how long the symptoms last. For instance, symptoms from exposure to lead and arsenic can not appear for two to eight weeks. proper up arrow However, cadmium poisoning symptoms might appear hours after exposure.
When you have acute heavy metal poisoning, which occurs when you are exposed to a lot of metal at once (for instance, by swallowing a toy), you may experience the following symptoms:
Confusion
Numbness
Nausea
Vomiting
being put into a coma
Chronic or long-term exposure to low amounts of heavy metals may result in symptoms that appear gradually over time. Some signs could be:
Headache
Weakness
Tiredness
muscle ache
aching joints
Constipation
Since many of the symptoms might be confused with those of other medical conditions, true heavy metal poisoning is uncommon and can be challenging to diagnose.proper up arrow
Reasons for Heavy Metal Poisoning and Risk Factors
A heavy metal poisoning may result from:
Occupational exposure
Pollution of the air or water
Foods
Medicines
Cookware, plates, and food containers with improper coatings
consuming lead-based paint
Pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides being consumed
How Is Poisoning From Heavy Metal Recognized?
If you have ever been exposed to any compounds that are known to be poisonous, your doctor will inquire. To make a diagnosis, they may also request one of the tests listed below:proper up arrow
Blood smear and whole blood count
Tests for kidney function
test of urine
Test for liver function
EKG: electrocardiogram
Depending on your symptoms and precise exposure, a particular test will be given to you. The metals that are tested for the most are the following:
Lead
Mercury
Arsenic
Cadmium
Chromium
Heavy Metal Poisoning Prognosis
The prognosis is good if heavy metal poisoning is diagnosed before it is thought that irreparable harm has occurred.
Heavy Metal Poisoning Duration
The length of time depends on the kind and volume of metal to which a person has been exposed. Continual exposure can cause cancer or severe neurological impairment.
Heavy metal poisoning: Treatment & Medicine Options
Reducing exposure to the substance is the first step in treating heavy metal poisoning.
Chelating medications, which bind to the metal and are then eliminated in your urine, are frequently used to treat acute poisoning. They are available as pills and injections.
Drugs that are frequently employed as chelating agents include:
Bal In Oil’s dimercaprol
Calcium Disodium Versenate, also known as edetate calcium disodium
(Cuprimine) penicillamine
Chelating medications are only used in severe poisoning cases since they run the risk of depleting your body’s supply of vital minerals like iron or causing metals to enter your bloodstream and travel to vital organs like the brain.proper up arrow
Other types of treatment could be:
Stomach pumping to expel absorbed metals
Utilizing oral activated charcoal
If renal failure occurs, hemodialysis or other specialized therapies may be used.
intravenously (IV) delivered fluids
You could avoid heavy metal poisoning by remembering the following advice:
If you operate with heavy metals, put on masks and safety gear.
Keep dust and grime out of your home as much as you can because many metals collect in them (take off your shoes before entering the house).
Pay heed to any mercury-related fish advisories in your area.
Know where you might be exposed to lead.
Check the labels of any products you bring into your home for any heavy metals that are stated.
The four metals most frequently linked to heavy metal toxicity in the US are lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium. Here are some potential issues for each:
poisoning by lead Overexposure might harm your reproductive organs and cause high blood pressure.
Lead Poisoning Lung damage, brain damage, visual issues, skin changes, and digestive issues are all conceivable.
poisoning by arsenic In addition to cancer and low blood pressure, neurological and gastrointestinal disorders can result from excessive exposure.
Cadmium Intoxication It’s possible that your kidney and lung function will decline.
