Heavy Metals Test Profile , Blood: Arsenic, Lead and Mercury

This panel measures the blood levels of arsenic, lead, and mercury.

The patient should avoid seafood and red wine 72 hours before collection.

Heavy Metals Mercury, Lead, and Arsenic - All You Need to Know

 

A heavy metal test has nothing to do with the rock music genre with a similar name. These tests are designed to check for heavy metals present in your body. Different types of metals such as mercury, lead, or arsenic can get inside your system.

In large quantities, these heavy metals can cause poisoning. The human body can slowly get rid of those metals, but the process takes a lot of time. It's highly recommended to test for heavy metals, especially if you have symptoms commonly associated with these substances.

Keep reading to learn more about heavy metals, hotheir dangersand how a heavy metal test can help you.

 

What Are the Substances Checked by a Heavy Metal Test Profile?

As mentioned earlier, most heavy metal tests check for 3 different substances - mercury, lead, and arsenic. Unfortunately, these metals are present in a lot of products we use every day, even in certain foods. Let's talk about each of them separately.

Mercury

Mercury is a heavy metal present in different objects as well as cigarettes. In large quantities, it can cause muscle weakness and lack of coordination. Since this is a heavy metal, your body gets rid of it very slowly, so you should remove yourself from mercury exposure as soon as possible.

This metal can also be added to paints and solvents, that's why it will eventually end up in your house and the breathable air. Mercury tends to stick to organs and tissues, causing poisoning in people of all ages.

Arsenic

Arsenic is also a dangerous heavy metal present in household products, including building items such as pressure-treated woods. Your potable water can also be contaminated with arsenic and the seafood you probably consume regularly.

Arsenic is a "global toxin" that can cause serious health problems, including cancer. It's highly recommended to test for this heavy substance from time to time, especially if you experience symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

Lead

Back in the days, most cars used gasoline enhanced with lead. This type of combination can be very dangerous because the lead will eventually end up in the atmosphere. People in the United States breathed air contaminated with lead for decades and it's believed that this is why the crcountry's crime rate was so high

Lead can damage the brain and cause abnormally aggressive behavior in people of all ages. This heavy metal is now banned from car fuels and it's present in fewer and fewer everyday products. Contamination with lead can lead to cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It's present in cigarette smoke too.

It has also been discovered that children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning. Their bodies are continuously developing and this makes them absorb 5 times more lead than adults do, regardless of its source. That's why you should be especially careful when it comes to having objects contaminated with lead around the house.

What Are the Symptoms of Heavy Metal Poisoning?

As mentioned earlier, it's strongly recommended to do a heavy metal blood test once every few years, especially if you eat a lot of seafood and drink water from the tap. Certain symptoms should prompt a heavy metal test as soon as possible.

Let's explore some of these symptoms and see how complex they can be.

• Diarrhea and nausea - diarrhea is caused by your body's desperate attempts to eliminate as much of the heavy metals as possible. This symptom can also be accompanied by nausea that lasts for days
• Vomiting and abdominal pain - heavy metals such as mercury and lead irritate the soft tissues inside the stomach. This could cause vomiting, pain, and a general state of discomfort
• Chills and weakness - mercury, in particular, can cause weakness and fatigue even in very healthy adults. Lead can damage the nervous system, leading to frequent chills and muscular weakness
• Shortness of breath - excessive amounts of heavy metals affect the lungs and respiratory system, leading to shortness of breath and difficulty breathing in general
• Tingling in the hands - this symptom is also caused by mercury or lead messing with your nervous system and causing weird symptoms
• High blood pressure - arsenic and lead can increase the speed of your blood passing through veins and arteries. That's because they tend to constrict blood vessels, increasing blood pressure
• Swollen skin - arsenic can also cause skin problems. You might experience red and/or swollen skin, itchy skin, or developing weird spots on various parts of the body
• Memory loss and anemia - these symptoms are commonly associated with lead and cadmium poisoning. They can be particularly more potent in developing children

Try the Heavy Metal Profile Panel Today!

There's no joke when it comes to heavy metals. If you work in an industrial setting or you eat a lot of seafood, it's highly recommended to test for these substances before you develop the symptoms mentioned above.

Even if you buy your fish from high-quality sources, it has been found that most if not all seafood contains small amounts of mercury and arsenic that could lead to poisoning. Make sure that you test for these two metals and follow your doctor's treatment if necessary.

To ensure that the heavy metal test is as accurate as possible, do not consume seafood 72 hours before doing a heavy metal test. At the same time, avoid red wine as it might also contain trace amounts of mercury or arsenic.

To order the heavy metal blood profile test at a reduced price, go to DiscountedLabs.com and add it to your cart. you'll receive the results in a few business days and you can compare them against reference values to see where you stand. Good luck!

 

For more information read this article about heavy metal poisoning