Heavy metals are elements extracted from the earth. These extracted metals are used for various purposes in agriculture, medicine, and industry. Even though the human body contains and needs some metals like zinc and iron to be healthy if the levels of metals like Arsenic, Thallium, lead and mercury increase in the body, it can lead to some serious repercussions.
Living a daily normal life, being exposed to heavy metals is inevitable. These elements are present everywhere from the air we breathe to the things we use in our daily life. However, controlling exposure to these metals is necessary to ensure a healthy body and mind.
What is Heavy Metal Poisoning?
Heavy metal poisoning happens when the human body is exposed to a high amount of heavy metals. The exposure could happen by food/water intake, environmental or intentional. It can not only make a person sick but also affect the way the body and mind work. Thallium, Arsenic, Lead, Mercury, Zinc, Copper, etc.. are some metals that are present in our body. In fact, the body needs these in particular amounts to be healthy. But high levels of these heavy metals in the body can pose serious health risks.
Heavy metal poisoning takes place when the body’s soft tissues end up absorbing high amounts of a particular metal. This may happen due to eating, drinking, or breathing air tainted with heavy metals, dust, or fumes.
What are the Signs of Heavy Metal Poisoning?
There are many ways you can be exposed to heavy metal poisoning. By working in a place that uses heavy metals, breathing in old lead dust, and even drinking or eating food contaminated with heavy metals and unfortunately, people use Heavy metals like Arsenic or Thallium to poison other people. So, how do you know if you are suffering from heavy metal poisoning? Here are the symptoms of heavy metal toxicity that you will experience:
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea
- Abdominal Pain
- Vomiting
- Shortness of Breath
- Tingling in Your Hands and Feet
- Chills
- Weakness
Even though the general heavy metal toxicity symptoms are the same in most people, their intensity depends on the level of toxicity in an individual. Some symptoms are also metal-specific. For example, mercury poisoning could lead to lack of coordination, muscle weakness, hearing and speech difficulties, and nerve damage; whereas lead poisoning can cause anaemia, headaches, memory loss, and loss of developmental skills in children.
How to Test for Heavy Metals in the Body?
A Heavy Metals Test is the scan of many Heavy Metals substances levels of potential toxicity that might impose a burden on the body functions. There are many specialized tests also to determine the levels of heavy metals in your body like kidney function tests, liver function studies, urine tests, hair tests, fingernail analysis, electrocardiograms, and x-rays.
If you are looking to get a heavy metal toxicity test done then we, at The Carlson Company, offer multiple Heavy Metal panel tests. All you have to do is book an appointment and a medical professional will walk you through sample collection, including blood, Urine or Hair. The sample will be sent to our laboratories and the result will be provided to you within a few days. To book an appointment, call us on + (866) – 889 – 3410. To know more about us, visit The Carlson Company Website
