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▲ Feel confused ▲ Go numb ▲ Feel sick and throw up ▲ Pass out Acute poisoning is an emergency. Call your doctor or local poison control center right away. The na onal Poison Help Line is 800-222-1222. Chronic poisoning. You get this a er contact with a low dose over a long me. As the metal builds up in your body, you can get sick. Symptoms come on slowly and can include: ▲ Headache ▲ Weakness and redness ▲ Achy joints and muscles ▲ Cons pa on Diagnosis Different tests can check for different types of heavy metals. Some might test your blood or pee. Others might require an X-ray. Your doctor will also ask you about your job, hobbies, diet, and anything else that could have put you in contact with dangerous substances. Tests for heavy metals aren't rou ne. Your doctor would test you only if you show symptoms and there is a history of exposure or a good reason to suspect they are related to heavy metals. Treatments The main step is to stay away from whatever made you sick so you don't make the problem worse. Your doctor can help you figure out how to protect yourself. Some mes you might need to have your stomach pumped to get the metals out. If your poisoning is serious, one treatment op on is chela on. You get drugs, usually through an IV needle, that go into your blood and "s ck" to the heavy metals in your body. They then get flushed out with your pee. Chela on can be an important part of treatment. But the therapy can be dangerous, and it doesn't work with all heavy metals. So doctors only use it only if you have high levels of the metal and clear symptoms of poisoning. Unproven Tests and Treatments Experts say that heavy metal poisoning is rare. But lots of websites claim it's common and blame it, without proof, for all sorts of health problems. Many businesses sell unreliable tests and expensive or even dangerous treatments. Hair analysis or chelation challenge tests ("provoked urine" tests). They're inaccurate. They can't tell you if you're sick or need treatment. Over-the-counter chelation treatments. These are not approved by the FDA, may not be safe, and there's no evidence that they work. If you think you have heavy metal poisoning, don't try to diagnose it or treat it on your own. See your doctor instead. Prevention If you're worried about heavy metal poisoning, your doctor can give you personalized advice. General ps include: ▲ If you work with heavy metals, always wear masks or other safety equipment. ▲ Check local fish advisories to make sure the fish you eat is safe. ▲ If you live in a home built before 1978, hire an expert to test it for lead paint. ▲ Check labels on products for heavy metals. Abby's Magazine - Volume 6 Issue 4 | Page 33