It May Not Be The Flu

You noticed that your job site switched it’s cleaning chemicals. You’re feeling achy, tired and dizzy. Do you have the flu or something more insidious? Heavy metal and chemical poisoning starts out with flu like symptoms. You can be exposed when a toxin is inhaled, swallowed or applied to exposed skin. Most people contract chemical poisoning accidentally in their workplace if their job involves toxic chemicals. The body’s immune system is compromised by these chemicals and tries to rid itself of these poisons. Damage to internal organs may occur. Poisoning can happen very quickly after one exposure or it can accumulate in the body over a period of time after repeated exposures.

How do you know if there are toxic chemicals in your workplace? Just because you don’t know doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Every employer should have a list of chemicals being used and the dangers that are involved with them. This Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) explains all the toxic chemicals that are being delivered and used by your company. These sheets should be made available to every employee. People who are exposed to chemicals in their workplace are always at a higher risk than anyone else to suffer from chemical poisoning.

The symptoms of chemical poisoning and metal toxicity vary. With a mild case you could experience headaches and soreness in the joints. You could have loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, perspiration, numbness, hair loss and restlessness. With a moderate level of poisoning the symptoms get worse. You can have muscle twitching, stomach cramps, severe diarrhea, and noticeable loss of muscle coordination You can also experience blurred vision, an irritation of the eyes or even excess saliva. You can have memory loss, dizziness and dry skin. The most severe symptons of chemical poisoning and metal toxicity will cause a considerable amount of thirst for the person as well as a high heart rate. Muscle twitching will be apparent, the pupils of the eyes will be reduced to a pinpoint while difficulty breathing will begin.

Metal and chemical poisoning is considered to be one of the major causes of the following diseases: cancers of the bladder, liver, stomach and other organs, Alzheimer’s Disease, asthma, bronchitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, epilepsy, emphysemas, fibromyalgia, heart disease, hypertension, kidney disease, liver disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, multiple sclerosis, neurological disorders and more. Chemical and metal toxicity can cause cell breakdown, possible chromosomal damage, destruction of tissue damage, damages T-cell production, and causes genetic changes, a cause of tumors, and thyroid problems.

The most effective and widely used treatment for heavy metal poisoning is Chelation therapy. When applied, it will bind with the metal in the tissues of the body to form a complex that is then released from the tissues in the blood stream, strained into the blood by the kidneys and then excreted out of the body through urination. A specific treatment plan depends on the type of poison to which a person has been exposed. With chemical poisoning, most treatments involve identifying the offending chemical and avoiding future exposures. A healthy diet, nutritional supplements and/or detoxification therapy are also helpful. Detoxification therapy is especially effective for the liver, which is the organ that metabolizes most toxins.

The bad news is that chemical poisoning doesn’t show up right away or may be misdiagnosed. Be aware of any long term effects of any chemicals that you’re exposed to. If you have concerns, ask your doctor to perform tests for detecting high levels of chemical poisoning in your body. Be aware of what‘s around you and stay safe.