Health: Eight symptoms of metal poisoning

 

The world around us is full of heavy metals, from the copper and iron in our pipes and cooking pots to the arsenic and lead found in car batteries and ammunition.

 

While heavy metal poisoning is uncommon in most parts of the UK and first world countries, the danger is still very real for people who have been exposed.

 

Corroded water pipes can leach lead into your drinking water, runoff from industrial plants can contaminate groundwater with arsenic, and eating too much seafood from tainted water sources can cause mercury poisoning.

 

If you have reason to believe you may have been exposed and are experiencing toxicity symptoms from heavy metals in your body, you will want to seek medical treatment right away.

 

Symptoms of heavy metal poisoning:

 

1. Feelings of Confusion

 

Sudden, unexplained confusion is a sign of acute heavy metal poisoning. This is often part of a general loss of cognitive functions, such as clarity of thought and ability to perceive things going on around you.

 

Confusion is a symptom of many things, including carbon monoxide poisoning and extremely low blood sugar, so it isn’t a guarantee that a person is suffering from heavy metal poisoning, but if you live near a coal-burning power plant or downstream from an industrial plant you will want to seek immediate medical attention and let the doctor know why you believe they should test for heavy metal toxicity.

 

2. Nausea and Vomiting

 

While nausea and vomiting are often symptoms of everything from the flu to pregnancy, these are also symptoms of acute heavy metal poisoning. If you are experiencing these symptoms and believe you have ingested a large amount of heavy metals, such as breathing in coal dust or accidental ingestion of pesticides, reach out to a medical professional and let them know what happened right away.

 

3. Numbness

 

Numbness can be a symptom of a number of things, including a stroke or a panic attack, but it can also be a sign of acute heavy metal toxicity. It is especially likely to cause numbness in one or both feet, but heavy metals can cause numbness anywhere in the body.

 

If you experience numbness and have used homeopathic medications or other things containing arsenic or work in an industry where you come in regular contact with heavy metals, contact a doctor and go in for testing right away.

 

4. Passing Out or Fainting

 

Experiencing acute heavy metal poisoning can cause you to pass out or faint. While other things can also cause you to pass out, such as a vasovagal response or locking your knees for too long, people who have passed out and have reason to believe they have been exposed to heavy metals should let their doctor know that they should be tested for heavy metal poisoning.

 

5. Headache

 

Headaches are often a symptom of chronic heavy metal poisoning, meaning that you’ve been exposed to heavy metals slowly over time and built up a toxic level in your blood over the course of months or years. If you live in a community where your water is known to have high levels of lead or other heavy metals and you are experiencing chronic headaches you should reach out to a medical professional right away.

 

6. Constipation

 

While a lack of fiber can be enough to cause constipation, chronic heavy metal poisoning can do the same. Mercury, lead, and other metals can damage the intestinal nerves, slowing things down and making your body less responsive.

 

Though constipation is not enough in and of itself to indicate you are suffering from heavy metal toxicity, if you know you have been exposed or are in a situation where you are at higher risk of exposure, be sure to mention it to your physician so they can run any necessary tests.

 

7. Weakness and Exhaustion

 

Weakness and exhaustion can be caused by any number of things, from hypothyroidism to a Vitamin D deficiency. However, these are also powerful signs of chronic heavy metal poisoning. Extreme fatigue should be discussed with your doctor, and if you have reason to believe you are likely to have been exposed to heavy metals at some point in the recent past you should tell a medical professional so they can provide a risk assessment.

 

8. Achy Muscles and Joints

 

If you live or work in an area where you are exposed to higher than normal amounts of heavy metals and you experience achy muscles and joints, you will want to reach out to a doctor right away.

 

While achy muscles and joints can be caused by a number of different diseases or injuries, they can also be a sign of nerve damage caused by heavy metal toxicity. This is especially concerning for young children and others who are unlikely to have any other issues that might cause sore muscles and joints.

 

If you experience a sudden onset of one or more of these symptoms, contact a medical professional right away.

 

You should always check for a variety of potential causes of any of these symptoms, especially for things like carbon monoxide poisoning or other issues that might impact more than one person, but if you have any reason to believe that you may have experienced an acute or chronic exposure to a heavy metal you need to make your doctor aware of the situation so they can run any necessary tests.

Some heavy metals can be removed from the body through chelation, a process of bonding the metals to other ions and molecules to allow them to pass from the body. This is not always the case, however, so speak with your doctor about what your options are if you believe you are the victim of heavy metal poisoning and try your best to prevent exposure to heavy metals whenever possible.