Heavy Metals Toxicity Symptoms

Heavy metals are a group of metals that can be toxic in varying amounts, and are toxic by their individual nature. For example, tin and nickel can be toxic in the human body in high amounts, but their overall toxicity is much less than a heavy metal like mercury or lead. It will take much less mercury or lead to cause heavy metal toxicity symptoms than tin or nickel. There are many different heavy metal toxicity symptoms that can trigger long-standing illness. For example, irritability and volatility of mood can be a sign of mercury toxicity. Unfortunately, these symptoms are not specific heavy metal toxicity symptoms for mercury. Mercury toxicity is also known for many neurological symptoms such as weakness, numbness, headaches, memory deficits, and if very serious dementia.

Heavy Metals Toxicity Symptoms Vary By Metals

Lead is another toxic metal that often give certain heavy metal toxicity symptoms. Some of the symptoms of lead are similar to mercury in that they alter the brain and nervous system, but often gives specific issues of attention and focusing problems. Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been strongly linked to lead exposure, and any child who exhibits attention deficit and/or hyperactivity should be checked for lead levels. Blood testing for lead is quite common, but hair analysis testing is also accurate as well. In fact, hair testing may be preferred as it is indicative of storage of lead in the body long-term, whereas blood testing may only be indicative of recent exposure. After the exposure is gone blood lead levels can dissipate quite quickly. This too is the case with mercury and other heavy metals.

Arsenic is another heavy metal associated with marker heavy metal toxicity symptoms. Arsenic is commonly found in various rice and chicken products. It is also used in pesticides and herbicides sprayed on farms which makes it associated with ground water contamination. Arsenic, like lead and mercury, can lead to nervous system problems as well such as attention, hyperness, and poor cognitive function, but can also create problems metabolically leading to fatigue, weakness, and anemia.

Unsure? A Heavy Metals Lab Test Can Tell You

It is very important for anyone suffering with various heavy metal toxicity symptoms described in this short article to be tested for heavy metals. Hair analysis testing is the preferred method at first as a general screen for prolonged heavy metal exposure. Blood testing can be done, but often it doesn’t stay elevated for very long after acute exposure. Either way the presence of heavy metal toxicity symptoms warrants laboratory assessment.

 

Recommended: Toxic Lead Levels in Children