What Is Heavy Metal Poisoning? Know The Type And Symptoms

By Author: Suborna Fermi
Total Articles: 26
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Heavy metal toxicity or poisoning occurs when there is a buildup of heavy metals in your body. The heavy metal poisoning causes a wide range of symptoms and may contribute to certain life threatening health conditions, including cancer.

In this article, we look into the types, causes, symptoms and diagnosis of heavy metal poisoning.

What is heavy metal poisoning?

Heavy metals are present everywhere around us including, the food we eat, water we drink, medications we take, air we breathe, and even in our body. Iron, zinc and copper, for instance, are essential for our body’s regular functions. When the soft tissues of our body absorb more than the required amount of heavy metals, it starts to build up in our body which results in various symptoms and conditions.

What are the common types of heavy metal poisoning?

The most common types of heavy metals poisoning are as follows.

1. Arsenic:

Arsenic is one of the most harmful heavy metals. This metal is naturally occurring metal, but can be artificially made. Arsenic poisoning or arsenicosis can be extremely harmful for humans. ...
... The most dangerous part of this metal is that it has no taste and odor, so people will not realize if they are exposed to it.

Symptoms of arsenic poisoning:

The general symptoms of arsenic poisoning includes:

Nausea and vomiting
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Skin lesions
Muscle pain
Unusual heart rhythm
Tingling sensation in the hands and feet

If you are exposed to arsenic for a very long time, then the symptoms appear more severe. Long term exposure to arsenic may cause:

Persistent sore throat
Digestive issues
Darkening of the skin

As arsenic poisoning is a serious condition, if you are experiencing these types of symptoms then contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Causes of arsenic poisoning:

The main and most common cause of arsenic poisoning is consuming contaminated groundwater for a long time. However, consuming arsenic in a small amount can also cause a few symptoms. Some other potential causes are:

Breathing air that contains arsenic
Breathing in the smoke or dust from woods that were treated with arsenic
Having exposure to the wasteland or landfill
Smoking tobacco
Living in an industrialized area
Eating arsenic contaminated foods

Long term exposure to arsenic can contribute to various types of cancer including skin, kidney, lungs, digestive system, lymphatic system, prostate, bladder, and liver.

2. Lead:

Lead is a highly poisonous metal which can cause serious fatal conditions. Ingestion of small amounts of lead may not cause any symptoms, the symptoms may occur after several months or years of exposure.

Symptoms of lead poisoning:

Symptoms of lead poisoning may vary from person to person. The common symptoms of lead poisoning include:

Abdominal pain or cramps
Constipation
Fatigue
Headache
Sleep difficulties
High blood pressure
anemia
Numbness of hands and feet

Long exposure to lead can cause seizures and coma.

Causes of lead poisoning:

Lead poisoning generally occurs when you breathe in lead-contaminated air or drink lead-containing water. One cannot taste, smell or see this metal with naked eyes. However, lead poisoning can be cured with proper treatment, but the effects cannot be reversed.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe you a Blood Toxic Element Profile Test in order to measure the levels of heavy metals in your bloodstream. This test generally measures the levels of certain potentially harmful metals including arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium.

This heavy metal test is a simple procedure that only requires a sample of your blood. Also, you might be required to fast for about 10 to 12 hours before appearing for the blood test. There are multiple diagnostic centers that offer free home sample collection.

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