What Is Heavy Metals Testing And When Do You Need It?

Types of heavy metals

There are quite a few different heavy metals that, if we end up with them in our bodies, can cause adverse health effects. Out of all the different heavy metals, the most common are arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead, and mercury. Copper, nickel, and lead are very common and are found worldwide.

Many common tools and everyday devices are still made from these metals. Apart from lead, copper and nickel toxicity is less common in people because we absorb small amounts regularly. Still, some chronic illnesses can cause us to process these minerals improperly and develop, for instance, too much copper in the blood, which can cause life-threatening illnesses.

The most dangerous metals are cadmium, lead, and arsenic, as they can travel greater distances through the environment. Sources of exposure include mining sites, refineries and other production facilities, chemical production facilities, pharmaceuticals, waste and waste management, sewage runoff, debris, and scrap metal.

For elements like arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, even a small amount is too much and can be dangerous. Mercury poisoning was known to be quite common in the past as it was used to manufacture many common household items, including thermometers, and even as a dye in the bands of hats.

Signs of heavy metal toxicity

It can be incredibly difficult to tell if you’ve been exposed to heavy metals. Still, there are certain health signs to be aware of that can indicate that a person is suffering from heavy metal toxicity. The longer a person is exposed and not treated, the more damaging the effects can be.

Symptoms typically start mild, with headaches, blurred vision, and fatigue. These can quickly move on to nausea, vomiting, chills, diarrhea, changes in body temperature, cognitive impairment, and numbness in the limbs, particularly the outer extremities, including the fingers, toes, hands, and feet.

Severe symptoms from heavy or prolonged exposure can include anemia, arrhythmia, brain, liver, and kidney damage, permanent or long-term memory loss, cancer, and miscarriages in pregnant women.

Heavy metals tests

If you think you may be experiencing symptoms of heavy metal toxicity, you should see a doctor who can order a heavy metal screening or heavy metal blood test. There are different forms of testing depending on the metal being detected. For example, a blood test is the best way to detect mercury or lead poisoning.

A urine test can detect common metals like arsenic, lead, and mercury. A heavy metals panel may be able to test you for several metals at once. Some metals like cobalt and copper may show up in a simple hair test. Still, for the more dangerous and less common metals, like cadmium, a cadmium blood test is the best answer.

It is always better to consult your doctor and order professional testing rather than trying a product like an at-home heavy metals test kit, as these things are often inaccurate and unreliable. In contrast, specialized tests from a doctor are much more accurate. Plus, if you do have heavy metal toxicity, a doctor will require professional testing to confirm results before moving forward with treatment.

Treatment options

There are a few ways that metal toxicity can be treated. Chelation therapy is the most common treatment for patients with toxicity, particularly lead and mercury toxicity.

Chelation therapy uses a special drug that is added to the bloodstream to essentially bind together the toxins from the heavy metals and pull them out of the blood.

Patients undergoing chelation may need dialysis to cleanse and purify their blood of heavy metals. If your toxicity levels are mild, it is possible to use certain at-home products or make dietary changes to cause the body to detox naturally. This should only be done in extremely light cases and with the guidance of a healthcare professional, as the detox process can be slow, and the longer a person remains toxic, the more damaging it can be to their health.

Certain foods can help flush the body, as well as diuretics, which can start the cleansing process. Some levels of toxins may be able to escape through the pores, but much of the toxicity stays in the bloodstream, which is why at-home detox can be difficult.

Conclusion

Heavy metal toxicity is a rare but real concern for many people. If you work around a lot of heavy metals or are exposed to them through sewage, drinking water from an unclean source, or your work environment, it is a good idea to keep an eye on your health and report any strange symptoms to your doctor.

Your doctor can then order a heavy metals test and determine if you are suffering from toxicity before administering the best treatment for your situation. It is best to act quickly; the longer heavy metals stay in the body, the worse the effects.