What are heavy metals?

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Heavy metals are metals that have a specific gravity of at least 5 times greater than water, such as mercury, zinc, arsenic, lead, and aluminum. These substances decompose very slowly and have been mixed in the environment for a long time, causing many people to ingest these substances without being aware of them. When they enter our bodies, they accumulate as free radicals and oxidants, which cause cell deterioration. 

If this toxin accumulates in the body in large quantities, it will cause harm to the body, such as diarrhea, stomachache, vomiting, nausea, weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and constant sensations like needles pricking your hands and feet. สมัครสมาชิก UFABET วันนี้ รับเครดิตฟรีทุกวัน These heavy metals will have the same effect as accelerating the aging of internal organs, causing them to deteriorate faster than they should. 

But it is good news because nowadays, we can measure the level of these heavy metals in the body and there are also ways to remove these heavy metals from the body. 

How do heavy metals enter the body?

Heavy metals are mostly found in food, air and water. We mostly absorb these substances into our bodies through aquatic animals and plants, such as shrimp, shellfish, crabs, fish and even vegetables and fruits. It is a cycle from eating along the food chain. Therefore, heavy metals are often found in food contamination in our daily lives. 

The most common heavy metals are tin, arsenic, lead, zinc, and mercury. Because they take a long time to decompose, they accumulate in the environment around us for a long time. They can cause acute to chronic poisoning of the body without us realizing it. This substance can enter the body in several ways as follows:

  • Inhaling dust particles that contain some of these toxic ingredients or inhaling cigarette smoke
  • Contact and absorption through the skin from working in factories that use this substance as a raw material or in some cosmetics where this substance is added as an ingredient.
  • Eating food, especially fish, that live in rivers or seas that are high in mercury, or herbal medicines that are contaminated with this toxin, as well as drinking water contaminated with these toxins.

How to treat heavy metal poisoning

Initially, the doctor will recommend that the patient have a urine or blood test to test whether the cause is from heavy metal toxins or not. If the examination finds that the cause is from heavy metals, the doctor will immediately begin the first step of treatment. The doctor will have a method to eliminate toxins in the bloodstream by using chelating agents to trap these heavy metals and the body will be able to expel them through the urine through a natural mechanism.

How to treat heavy metal poisoning

It is often used to absorb things in the stomach to remove heavy metals that the patient has swallowed into the body. Not only that, there is also a measurement of intracranial pressure to check for swelling in the patient’s brain. There is also blood dialysis. And there is treatment in case of kidney failure. But it will be a treatment method to support the symptoms first to check and treat the consequences after the organs have malfunctioned from before.

Guidelines for heavy metal prevention

The approach to preventing heavy metals for good health is not difficult to start. Just change your lifestyle first and follow these recommendations to prevent heavy metal toxins from entering the body, including reducing the risk of serious diseases. Start with the following easy prevention methods:

  • Wear a mask and protective clothing when exposed to dusty or smokey weather conditions because there is a high risk of exposure to heavy metals.
  • Avoid eating the same food menu repeatedly or from the same sources, such as fruits, fish, and vegetables, because there is a risk of the body receiving the same toxins and causing them to accumulate.
  • Have a regular physical examination every year, especially for heavy metals. If it exceeds the limit, further treatment will be provided to help remove heavy metals safely and appropriately.
  • Avoid using substandard cosmetics because most of them contain mercury, which is harmful to the skin, especially creams that claim to whiten the skin quickly, which is an exaggeration.
  • Keep your house clean regularly as there may be many toxins mixed in the air and dirt around you.
  • Avoid substandard supplements, medicines, or herbs because they are at high risk of being contaminated with heavy metals. 
  • Avoid touching batteries and deteriorated electronic devices as toxic substances may leak onto your skin and be inhaled without your knowing.
  • If your house is an old house, built before 1978 or 1978, it is recommended to renovate it because during those years, lead-based paint was used. If inhaled for a long period of time, it can be harmful to the body.