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Mercury is one of the most needed, and at the same time, one of the most dangerous metals. Mercury is used in various fields of human activity. However, if the allowable mercury rate in the body is exceeded, this can lead to serious illness. The most dangerous thing about mercury intoxication is that symptoms can occur several years after poisoning. In addition, their course is very similar to ordinary food poisoning, which complicates the diagnosis.
Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning
When mercury poisoning, headaches appear, hands shake, you can observe some deviations of the nervous system. A person feels chronic fatigue, he may begin to see and hear poorly. Symptoms of mercury poisoning can include stomatitis, memory impairment, excessive irritability, and pallor of the skin. Also, an increased dose of mercury in the body can be determined by the state of the nails - they become dull, the whitish hole disappears along the edge of the nail. With mercury poisoning, perspiration decreases.
Diagnose elevated levels of mercury in the body using laboratory tests of urine and blood. In addition, mercury accumulates in the hair, so the study of hair in this case is also relevant. Given the approximate hair growth rate, you can even determine at what time the poisoning occurred.
One of the most important factors is determining where mercury could enter the body. To do this, we need to outline how in everyday life we encounter this heavy metal and how to avoid mercury poisoning.
Mercury in everyday life
Mercury can enter the body from the following objects that surround us every day:
- The most common is a mercury thermometer. It is in every house and sometimes it happens that a thermometer is inadvertently broken. In this case, you need to call special services (for example, the Ministry of Emergencies) that will help in the collection and disposal of mercury. If this is not possible, it is urgent to remove all people from the room where the incident occurred. Then put a wet gauze bandage on your nose and collect mercury with pieces of paper without touching it. Place mercury in a jar of water and thoroughly ventilate the room for several days. Only prolonged weathering will help get rid of mercury vapor. Then dispose of clothing and all objects in contact with the mercury balls, including the broken thermometer itself. Usually in each city there are special services that deal with the disposal of mercury.
- Fluorescent gas discharge or mercury lamps also contain mercury. If they are damaged, it is better to take all measures for the collection and disposal of mercury described in the previous paragraph. For the disposal of used lamps of this type, special services work.
- Excess mercury in the air may be due to nearby industrial plants and factories. The combustion products of coal and oil may also contain an unacceptable mercury rate.
- Salt seawater has the ability to accumulate mercury. This affects the marine life. Often an overabundance of this heavy metal can be observed in fish and other seafood. Therefore, before using this kind of delicacies, you must ask the seller or restaurant staff for a certificate of compliance of these products with the standards for mercury content in them.
- Some vaccines also contain mercury.With the right dosage, this proportion of the content does not exceed the established norms.
- Dental fillings of the old sample (amalgam-containing) also have a proportion of mercury in their composition. When visiting a doctor and before dental treatment, make sure that the doctor uses modern materials for filling.
- If mercury enters the water, and then this water is used to irrigate fertile land, the crop may be high in mercury. Frequent consumption of such fruits and vegetables contributes to the accumulation of mercury in the body. To determine the presence and dose of mercury in certain products, it is necessary to conduct laboratory tests.
These simple rules and recommendations will help you to protect your body from mercury if possible. However, if intoxication has already occurred, you need to figure out how to remove mercury from the body quickly and most safely.
How to remove mercury from the body medication
If there is a suspicion of mercury poisoning, you must urgently consult a doctor. He will prescribe medications that will most safely cleanse the body of mercury intoxication. All medicines are based on sulfur, which, when ingested, binds mercury to sulfur sulfide. Sulfur sulfide does not dissolve and is excreted from the body naturally. Medicines that are aimed at providing first aid after mercury poisoning do not combine with each other, so only a doctor can prescribe them.
- Unitiol. This medicine is used against various types of intoxication. This drug cannot be used for cardiovascular diseases and peptic ulcers.
- Succimer. This is an antidote medicine that binds mercury in the digestive tract and brings it out. May cause allergies to certain components in the composition.
- Taurine. It is a sulfur-containing acid that is very effective in controlling mercury.
- Methionine. An amino acid that accelerates the metabolic processes in the body, thereby removing mercury to the outside.
- D-penicillamine. It has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory property. Contraindicated in various kidney diseases.
- Tetacin calcium. This drug is used for acute heavy metal poisoning. Commonly used for mercury vapor poisoning.
- Sodium thiosulfate. Anti-inflammatory drug aimed at the treatment of various types of poisoning.
Products for removing mercury from the body
- One of the most useful herbs against mercury poisoning is cilantro (or coriander). A couple of plant bunches must be ground and poured with a liter of water. When the broth is infused enough, you need to drink it like tea. You can sweeten a healthy broth with honey. There is a caution - do not cook coriander broth in a metal bowl. Otherwise, the grass will remove metal from the dishes into the water that you are going to drink.
- If mercury has entered the gastrointestinal tract, you must give the person to drink egg white mixed with water as an antidote.
- Rice is a great adsorbent. It absorbs heavy metals and brings them out. If mercury poisoning is suspected, eat more boiled rice.
- Eat any kind of seaweed. It contains alginates that neutralize mercury.
- Beetroot will help to cope with any toxic substances. It has flavonoids that fight the body's intoxication.
- The potato has a lot of starch, which, like rice, absorbs harmful substances.
- To remove excess mercury from the body will help decoction of alfalfa grass, oats, apples, raspberries, blackberries, apricots. Strengthen the liver can be with the help of garlic, sesame, rose hips and calendula broth.
First aid for mercury poisoning
In case of mercury poisoning, a doctor must be called.While the ambulance is on the way, you need to give the patient first aid. For poisoning with mercury vapor, rinse your mouth with potassium permanganate or another antiseptic solution. Induce the patient to vomit by taking a large amount of liquid. Give the patient 8-10 tablets of activated carbon.
Mercury is excreted in the urine, so to remove at least part of the heavy metals you need to give a person a lot to drink. As an antidote, you can drink raw chicken egg protein or a liter of milk. Also, to cleanse the intestines, the patient is given a laxative and an enema is given.
These simple rules will help you provide first aid to a person before the arrival of qualified specialists. Correct, well-coordinated and timely actions can cost a person life.
Every year you do a spring cleaning at home. So what is your body worse? It also periodically needs to be cleaned of accumulated heavy metals. Watch your health to know how to remove mercury from the body quickly and safely.
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