In today’s world of green living, organic foods, natural products and online resources, people have become more aware and educated about the benefits of being toxin-free. More and more people chose to eat and live more clean. While that is truly a wonderful breakthrough, the truth is most of us do not live in toxin-free environments. Whether it’s the toxins in the air from smog and smoking, non-organic foods or food sources contaminated with heavy metals, or even everyday skincare products, and even if you make better choices now, the damage has already been done. Heavy metal toxicity can lower energy levels, as well as affect the function of the brain, lungs, kidney, liver, and other important organs.
If you have been exposed to heavy metals, you may not necessarily show signs and symptoms right away, especially if the exposure has been short-term, and same goes for people who have had minute but chronic and frequent exposure. Of course if the exposure has been severe, signs may present right away. In all these cases, the body burden may be significant and cause anything from mild or moderate symptoms, to serious symptoms and disorders.
You Should Be Tested for Heavy Metals If You Have:
- Clear history of exposure
- Lab work showing exposure/toxicity
- Symptoms of toxicity
- Multiple allergies/sensitivities
- Endocrinology problems (thyroid, adrenals, sex hormones)
- Cardiovascular issues, including resistant hypertension
- Hormonal imbalance (Infertility, PCOS, irregular periods)
- Digestive disorders
- Chronic conditions (Lyme, IBS, etc)
- Immune dysfunction
- Chronic inflammation
The three most common heavy metal toxins that we are exposed to on a daily basis include Mercury, Arsenic, and Lead. Each of these metals carry their own risks and problems and have multiple sources of exposure. Eliminating the source of exposure is always step number one, after which you should seek treatment, which usually involves some form of chelation, along with correction of deficiencies and addressing the resulting symptoms and diseases.
Symptoms and Diseases Associated with Elevated Mercury levels:
- Neurological – cognitive defects, decreased motor function, ADHD, neuropathy, autonomic dysfunction, and tremors
- Cardiovascular – high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, heart attacks
- Immune dysfunction – low resistance to illness, increased allergies, autoimmune disorders
- Endocrine – hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, blood sugar dysregulation
- Elevated liver enzymes
- General – fatigue, headaches, decreased memory, muscle and joint pain, hair loss, and a metallic taste in the mouth
Symptoms and Diseases Associated with Elevated Arsenic levels:
- Cancer – lung, liver, bladder, prostate, basal cell, and squamous cell
- Cardiovascular – high blood pressure, heart attacks, stroke
- Respiratory disorders – COPD, asthma, and cough
- Diabetes
- Herpes zoster (shingles)
- Decreased cognitive function
Symptoms and Diseases Associated with Elevated Lead levels:
- Neurological – cognitive decline, ADHD, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, panic attacks
- Cardiovascular – high blood pressure, elevated homocysteine, heart attacks
- Kidney disease
- Respiratory disorders
- Reproductive disorders – infertility in men, premature delivery, and earlier menopause
How to Heal From Heavy Metal Toxicity
If you suspect you may have heavy metal toxicity, the best way to find out is to do a quick urine test that we offer at our center. The test will help determine if you have these and other toxins, and how severe the toxicity may be. At that point our Naturopathic Doctor can offer various treatments, including IV chelation, liver detoxification, and vitamin and mineral replenishment, along with natural options for correcting and healing the health problems that may have resulted from the toxicity.
