Heavy metal poisoning can be caused by various metals and can be characterized by an acute or a chronic course.
What is heavy metal poisoning
In heavy metal poisoning, toxic metals have entered the organism, which have different poisoning effects. Basically, heavy metal poisoning can cause damage to the organism due to their involvement in metabolism. Some metals such as arsenic, nickel, zinc, iron and copper are vital for the organism in low doses. However, if their concentration increases, heavy metal poisoning occurs. Other heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury or aluminum (light metal) can immediately lead to heavy metal poisoning as soon as they are ingested in small amounts. Heavy metal poisoning is not just a health hazard in its own right. They are often the trigger for other diseases that arise from the poisoning symptoms. Heavy metal poisoning can be treated with special methods of elimination. Heavy metal poisoning can occur in adults and in children.
Causes
The causes of heavy metal poisoning are quite diverse. In particular, medicine distinguishes between different complexes of causes. In addition to a direct intake of the heavy metal through food, as may be the case, for example, when eating mushrooms or drinking water enriched with lead, it is possible that an accumulation of the toxic substances occurs, which can lead to heavy metal poisoning. Furthermore, people ingest the toxic heavy metals not only through food, but likewise through polluted air in the form of exhaust fumes. Another cause for the development of heavy metal poisoning can be metal implants, which are mainly known from dentistry as amalgam fillings. Here, over the years, mercury is deposited in special organs and causes heavy metal poisoning.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
Heavy metal poisoning can be manifested by a variety of symptoms, and the symptomatology depends primarily on the type and concentration of the toxic substance ingested. Signs of acute lead poisoning can include severe abdominal cramps, headaches, aching limbs, and fatigue; the chronic form is noticeable through so-called lead anemia associated with fatigue and reduced performance, as well as heart complaints. A typical symptom is a blue-gray lead fringe on the gums. Damage to the nervous system can be manifested by insomnia, hyperactivity, disorientation, and sensory disturbances in the extremities. In severe cases, life-threatening cardiovascular failure may occur. Acute mercury poisoning is very rare; chronic mercury poisoning initially presents with nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue, headache, gingivitis, and diarrhea. As it progresses, muscle twitching, anxiety and agitation, impaired hearing, vision, and speech, as well as motor impairments, impaired concentration, and personality changes may occur. Cadmium poisoning can result in pneumonia, as well as kidney weakness, an increased tendency to form urinary stones, or emphysema. Other non-specific symptoms that may occur with heavy metal poisoning include skin changes such as eczema or discoloration, tremors, paralysis, and abdominal pain. Liver and kidney damage is often not noticeable until an advanced stage, with yellowing of the skin and greatly increased or decreased urine output.
Diagnosis and progression
As described earlier, heavy metal poisoning can have an acute or sudden course. However, there are also heavy metal poisonings that are gradual and whose symptoms recur again and again. This always depends on the type of poisoning and the amount of heavy metal ingested. In order to be able to precisely detect heavy metal poisoning, innovative diagnostic methods and procedures are used in modern medicine. Those affected who feel physically unwell, suffer from symptoms such as discoloration of the skin, tongue and nails, or nausea and other complaints, first consult a specialist.Since the symptoms occurring in heavy metal poisoning can be extremely protracted and in part quite non-specific, frequent misdiagnoses cannot be ruled out. Therefore, an exact diagnosis in heavy metal poisoning is not always easy to make.
Complications
If heavy metal poisoning is present, it is initially manifested by disturbances in consciousness (increased drowsiness and severe fatigue) and a noticeable skin rash. If left untreated, these symptoms increase in intensity over the course of days, weeks or even years, causing serious complications. Often, the initial concentration problems develop into serious psychological conditions such as anxiety disorders and hyperactivity. Memory loss may also occur. Further complications are cardiac arrhythmias and fluctuations in blood pressure, which in extreme cases can lead to a heart attack. Furthermore, heavy metal poisoning can also cause allergies and gastrointestinal disorders. Treatment of heavy metal poisoning usually proceeds without major complications. However, the prescribed drugs can cause side effects and occasionally trigger allergic reactions. The commonly used medicinal charcoal causes constipation and intestinal obstruction in rare cases. A harmless complication is the typical black coloration of the stool. If gastric lavage is performed, shortness of breath, pneumonia and internal injuries may occur. Blood washing places a great overall psychological and physical burden on the patient. Regular dialysis can also promote heart disease and damage to the blood vessels and joints.
When should you see a doctor?
In the event of heavy metal poisoning, a doctor must always be consulted immediately. Only a quick diagnosis and treatment can prevent further complications and discomfort, which in the worst case can reduce the life expectancy of the affected person. A doctor should be consulted if the affected person has ingested a high amount of heavy metals. This usually results in severe pain in the abdomen and also in the limbs, and severe fatigue and exhaustion may also occur. If these complaints occur, a doctor must be consulted immediately. Heart complaints can also indicate heavy metal poisoning. Those affected also continue to suffer from inflammation of the entire body, and there is often severe trembling. In the case of heavy metal poisoning, a hospital must be visited immediately or an emergency doctor must be called. The further treatment depends strongly on the ingested amount and on the doctor of the heavy metal. In some cases, the life expectancy of the person affected by heavy metal poisoning is reduced if treatment is initiated late.
Treatment and therapy
The treatment of heavy metal poisoning has a high priority not only in conventional medicine. Various methods in alternative medical therapy can also help to alleviate or eliminate the triggers and the symptoms. Among the currently implemented forms of therapy, which are used when a clear diagnosis of heavy metal poisoning has been made, is the so-called chelation treatment. This is based on the binding of heavy metals present in the organism by EDTA and DMPS. Chelation therapy is considered to be an extremely gentle application. The principle of this therapy is based on a targeted elimination of heavy metals. In the case of acute signs of heavy metal poisoning, rapid treatment is essential in order to stabilize the function of all vital organs. In addition to chelation therapy, a whole range of medicines are prescribed for the symptoms of heavy metal poisoning, including oral antidotes and activated charcoal as a resorption agent. In addition, physicians perform gastric lavage when there is a reasonable suspicion of heavy metal poisoning. Activated charcoal is predominantly used as part of the primary or first-line treatment of heavy metal poisoning. The second step may be followed by blood washing, so-called hemoperfusion and lipid therapy. Hemoperfusion is similar to the dialysis procedure; unlike blood washing or hemodialysis, the blood passes through a filter system made of activated charcoal.
Prevention
Of course, to prevent heavy metal poisoning, the intake of the toxic substances should be avoided. In addition, it is beneficial to eliminate amalgam fillings with other substitutes. Drinking plenty of water without harmful substances is also useful.At workplaces with elevated levels of heavy metals, appropriate occupational safety measures must be taken to prevent these substances from entering the organism.
Aftercare
Depending on the severity of the poisoning, the patient’s body may be permanently damaged even after the heavy metals have been successfully eliminated. Therefore, during aftercare, on the one hand, his attention should be on avoiding exposure to heavy metals in the future, and on the other hand, on careful handling of his weakened body. It is important to know how the heavy metal poisoning occurred. Only then can it be avoided in the future. Sometimes it is enough for patients to have their amalgam fillings replaced, but sometimes they have to consider moving to less polluted areas. In any case, patients should follow the recommendation to drink plenty of clear, uncontaminated water for the rest of their lives. In this way, even the smallest amounts of toxins can be flushed out. At the same time, they should avoid anything that unnecessarily weakens their bodies. This includes toxins such as nicotine and alcohol, but also harmful foods such as cheap meat and fruit and vegetables from uncontrolled cultivation. Gentle detoxification measures are also advisable, such as regular visits to the sauna or steam bath. Even sweaty sports detoxify the body. Water-rich fruits and vegetables such as melon or cucumber support the detoxification process. Afterwards, the patient should allow himself and his body plenty of restorative rest.
What you can do yourself
Patients can also do a few things at home to successively drain toxins and heavy metals from their bodies. This includes anything that makes the body sweat, sports as well as sauna or steam bath visits. There is also the possibility of detoxifying at home in the bathtub. To do this, the patient takes a hot full bath every two days for six weeks, in which 300 grams of magnesium chloride or Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate, Epsom salt) has been dissolved. No other bath additives should be added. The patient should bathe at a temperature of 37 to 39 degrees Celsius for twenty to thirty minutes. Afterwards, do not dry off, but lie down wet in terry towels and sweat out the toxins for another half hour. They are neutralized on the body by the magnesium salts. Both magnesium chloride and Epsom salt are available over-the-counter in pharmacies. Also detoxifying is the ingestion of coarse-grained healing clay or zeolite. The administration of turmeric also accelerates the elimination of heavy metals in the body. However, it is not enough to season with turmeric for this purpose. Instead, patients should take a dietary supplement that also contains black pepper. Black pepper significantly increases the bioavailability of turmeric. While actively detoxifying, patients should get plenty of rest and avoid stimulant toxins such as alcohol and nicotine.
