Did you know that significant exposure to 23 different environmental metals can lead to a heavy metal toxicity? Some of the more common metals include things like lead, mercury, aluminum, and arsenic, and too much exposure can lead to significant health issues. Toxicity can cause damage to the nervous system as well as organs. When you have been exposed to these environmental metals for long periods of time, the damage can be even worse with things like physical, muscular, as well as neurological processes coming into play. Symptoms of these toxicities can resemble Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, as well as Multiple Sclerosis. (1) It’s pretty alarming what these heavy metals can do to the body which is why it’s so important to address potential symptoms and get to the root cause of what may be causing them. Let’s take a look at some of the signs and symptoms of a heavy metal toxicity.
What are the Symptoms of Heavy Metal Toxicity?
There are many different symptoms associated with a heavy metal toxicity. You may have one, more than one, or some of them may pop up at different times. If you have any of the following symptoms, it’s a red flag, and you should speak with a functional medicine practitioner who can offer specific testing and treatment options for metal toxicities. Here are some common symptoms.
- Chronic fatigue
- Autoimmune disease
- Neurological disorders
- Brain Fog
- Depression
- Bi-polar
- Anxiety
- Dementia
- Insomnia
While many symptoms go along with a heavy metal toxicity, the three leading symptoms are chronic fatigue, under-active thyroid, specifically under-conversion of T4 to T3 and anxiety.
Risk Factors
You may be wondering how someone would get a heavy metal toxicity in the first place, and the answer has to do with risk factors. While not everyone may be at a high risk for developing a toxicity, there are certain things that would put you at a greater risk. Here are three common metal toxicities, and potential causes.
Lead Toxicity
- Living in a home or working in an office with lead-based paint
- Having lead-containing plumbing
- Consuming foods grown in lead-rich soil
Mercury Toxicity
- Consuming fish high in mercury or shellfish that’s contaminated with methylmercury. Some fish to watch out for include shark, swordfish, king mackerel, bass, and tuna
- Having dental amalgam fillings
- Breathing in contaminated air in a workplace
Cadmium Toxicity
- Tobacco smoke
- Eating lots of foods that contain cadmium. Examples include grains, legumes, fish, and shellfish
- Contact with cadmium from household products such as batteries and solar panels
Treatment Options
If you are suffering from a heavy metal toxicity, it’s crucial that you get treated as soon as possible, as untreated toxicities can lead to chronic health conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Speaking with a functional medicine practitioner can get you on the right path, offering proper testing, and treatment options. Some common testing options include blood tests, urinalysis testing, and hair and nail analysis.
Here are a couple of other ways to kick-start the healing process:
- Remove the toxicity
- Start a detoxification diet
- Stay hydrated
- Avoid farmed fish & limit high mercury fish
- Get tested for food allergies and sensitives and avoid known triggers
- Avoid non-organic foods
- Eliminate foods with additives
- Reduce alcohol consumption
- Add flax and chia seeds to your diet to help detox the colon, and reduce inflammation
- Supplement with probiotics & a cilantro tincture
- Supplement with milk thistle as it helps with liver detoxification
- Speak to a functional medicine practitioner about other detoxification methods
If you are suffering from any health related issues, I am currently accepting new patients. To start the testing process and discover what is driving your health issues and to get on the road to recovery call our office at +1 (866) 498-1958 to schedule your initial consultation. If it is after our normal hours of operation you can click here to leave us a message. Please only leave a message if you would like a call back to schedule a consultation.
Resources:
Dr. Axe. Heavy Metal Detox.
Life Extension. Heavy Metal Detoxification.
