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 HEAVY METALS & ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS ANALYSIS 

Heavy metals are metallic elements that are dense and toxic at low concentrations. Heavy metal exposure is on the rise and may occur from air and water pollution, cigarettes, foods such as seafood and rice, well water, improperly coated food containers, medicines, dental fillings, and lead-based paints. Examples of heavy metals include lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic.

Heavy metals are damaging to brain health. They disrupt neurotransmitter function and create oxidative stress that is detrimental to nerve cells, contributing to mood disorders, poor memory and dementia. Identifying exposure to heavy metals may be key to assessing and treating mood disorders and preventing neurodegenerative diseases. These toxic elements are also known to cause damage to the liver, kidneys, cardiovascular system, and endocrine systems, and increase our risk of developing other conditions like infertility, diabetes, and cancer. 

Essential elements are nutrient elements that we get from our diet that are vital for optimum physical and emotional well-being when they are in their optimal ranges. Essential elements like copper, iodine, magnesium, selenium, and zinc are critical for enzymes that synthesize neurotransmitters and activate hormones. Bromine and lithium, while not currently classified as “essential” elements, have been shown to also play a positive role in health. Our body may need only trace amounts of these essential elements and if they reach excessive levels, they can be potentially toxic. 

Heavy metals and essential elements affect different systems of the body, so it makes sense that they can’t all be measured in the same body fluid therefore either urine or dried blood spot testing will be performed depending on the element.

Lead:

Lead poisoning or lead toxicity generally occurs either in childhood because of ingestion of lead-based paints and soil or because of occupational exposure. Lead exposure in children can cause serious conditions, including brain and nerve damage, developmental and learning delay, as well as hearing and speech disorders. In adults, lead exposure can cause adverse pregnancy outcomes, hypertension, kidney damage, and cognitive dysfunction. Signs of lead toxicity include abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, muscle weakness, heart palpitations, and pins and needles sensations.

Cadmium:

Cadmium is a heavy metal used in the production of batteries, plastics, plating and pigments. It can be inhaled as fumes or ingested in food or water and exposure is typically occupational. Cadmium damages the kidneys, lungs, and bones. Signs of acute exposure to cadmium include fever, chills, body aches, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Long-term toxicity leads to kidney disease, COPD, cardiovascular disease, bone weakness, and increases the risk of developing lung cancer.

Mercury:

Exposure to mercury even in small amounts can serious health problems and when effects the kidneys, lungs and the digestive, immune and central nervous system. We can be exposed to mercury by eating fish, drinking water, having dental fillings, and touching broken thermometers and fluorescent light bulbs. Symptoms of toxicity depend on the type and duration of exposure. Signs of acute toxicity include headaches, vomiting, shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, headache, and changes in skin pigmentation. Symptoms of long-term exposure to mercury include tremors, gingivitis, headache, short-term memory loss, anorexia, slowed speech, poor vision even blindness, and hearing impairment.

Arsenic:

Arsenic exists in toxic and nontoxic forms. Nontoxic arsenic is found in seawater, shellfish, and fish. The toxic form of arsenic it is most readily found in pesticides and wood preservatives but is also used in glass and ceramic production and in some pharmaceuticals. Exposure to arsenic occurs by drinking contaminated water and food, smoking tobacco, and industrial processes. Symptoms of acute toxicity include abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, muscle cramps, high blood pressure and rapid heart rate. Signs of long-term exposure and toxicity are recurrent diarrhea, muscle weakness, anemia, skin lesions, skin discoloration, skin cancer, palpitations, and sensory nerve damage. 

Copper:

Copper plays an important role in brain development, energy production, formation of connective tissue and blood vessels, as well as gene activation. Symptoms of copper deficiency include slow growth (especially in young children), anemia, frequent infections, fatigue, premature graying of hair, pale skin, cold sensitivity and weak bones. Symptoms of copper toxicity include progressive neurologic dysfunction leading to headache, nausea, fever and fainting.

Iodine:

Iodine is an essential nutritional element for proper thyroid function and development. Deficiency can cause goiter in adults and brain damage and mental retardation in children and fetuses. Excess iodine is typically excreted from the body, so toxic levels are rare and usually a result of drugs and radiology tests. Fish, shellfish, air, water, dental amalgams, thermometers, and compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Magnesium:

Magnesium is an essential element for bone strength, heart rate regulation, as well as nerve and muscle health. Magnesium deficiency is rare, but people with gastrointestinal disease, type 2 diabetes and alcohol dependence are at risk for magnesium inadequacy. Insufficient levels are associated with high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and migraines. The kidneys eliminate any excess dietary magnesium in urine, but the use of supplements, notably laxatives and antacids that contain magnesium, can cause toxicity. Symptoms of magnesium toxicity are low blood pressure, nausea, urine retention, and possible cardiac arrest.

Selenium:

Selenium is a required dietary element important for antioxidant balance, thyroid hormone production, and immunity. The range for normal selenium levels is small. Signs of selenium deficiency include fatigue, mental slowing, infertility, hair loss, arthritis, and muscle weakness. And in extreme cases can cause cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Selenium toxicity is called selenosis and is typically caused by dietary excess. Toxicity is characterized by a garlic odor to your breath, metallic taste in your mouth, hair loss, brittle nails, nausea, irritability, dermatitis, and peripheral nerve damage.

Lithium:

Lithium is an odorless metal used in the manufacture of storage batteries, heat transfer liquids and metal alloys. It is also used as a medication in Bipolar Disorder. Lithium exposure occurs through inhalation or from direct contact. It is an irritant to. the nose, lungs and skin. Poisoning signs include loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, dry mouth, headache, dizziness, muscle weakness, tremor and twitching, poor coordination and confusion. Extreme poisoning can cause seizures, coma and heart dysfunction leading to death.

Zinc:

Zinc is present in air, soil, water, and all foods, as well as many commercial products. In small quantities, it is an essential nutritional element for metabolism, immunity, and the cell life cycle. Signs of deficiency include growth retardation, hair loss, loss of appetite, frequent infections, dermatitis, diarrhea, and congenital malformations. In large quantities, it can cause toxicity leading to abdominal pain. Zinc overload can also suppress the absorption of copper, causing gastritis, fever, and nausea.

How much does Heavy Metals and Essential Element Analysis cost?

How do I get started? 

Schedule a free consultation with Dr. Albright at Elysian Beauty and Wellness. She will take the time to learn about you, your medical history, and your symptoms to determine a personalized approach to nutritional testing followed up with the appropriate supportive medical care.