Heavy Metal Toxicity: Common Symptoms
You may have heavy metal toxicity if you are experiencing any of these symptoms:
- Chronic pain throughout the muscles and tendons or any soft tissues of the body
- Chronic malaise – general feeling of discomfort, fatigue, and illness
- Brain fog – state of forgetfulness and confusion
- Chronic infections such as Candida
- Gastrointestinal complaints, such as diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gas, heartburn, and indigestion
- Food allergies
- Dizziness
- Migraines and/or headaches
- Visual disturbances
- Mood swings, depression, and/or anxiety
- Nervous system malfunctions – burning extremities, numbness, tingling, paralysis, and/or an electrifying feeling throughout the body
Diagnosis
The following tests and procedures may be helpful in diagnosing Heavy Metal Toxicity and/or other chronic conditions:
- Online Self-assessments – Self-assessments, such as the Candidiasis Self-assessment and the Magnesium Assessment, can help you determine some of the root cause(s) of your chronic conditions. Learn more about Self-assessments.
- DMPS provocation test – A blood test that measures the amount of heavy metals being removed through the urine after a provoking agent (DMPS) has been used. The key to this test is that it does NOT show the amount of mercury and other heavy metals that are in the body; it only shows what is being removed. Therefore, this test must be taken numerous times over the course of the detoxification protocol. Once excretion levels begin to drop within normal ranges, this means that there is only a small amount of metals left to excrete. This is the best test for accurate measurement. For more information, contact your healthcare practitioner about DMPS.
- Hair analysis – A tablespoon of hair collected from the nape of the neck is analyzed for its mineral content. Hair holds a history of the past 3 months, but there is much speculation concerning the effectiveness of this type of testing and many believe that the test is useless.
- Fecal testing and urine analysis – Fecal testing and urine analysis reveal the effectiveness of chelation therapy in excreting heavy metals from the body. During chelation therapy, a chelating agent “provokes” excretion of heavy metals. These tests then measure the amounts of heavy metals that are being excreted during chelation therapy.
- Heavy Metal Toxicity Overview
- Common causes of heavy metal toxicity
- Help me choose a natural and alternative treatment for heavy metal toxicity
- Dietary and lifestyle recommendations that may help in the treatment of heavy metal toxicity
- Conventional or prescription medications used in the treatment of heavy metal toxicity
- Cited Sources and Additional Reading for heavy metal toxicity
Article ID: 273
