Help With Autism

When parents begin to notice warning signs in their children’s behavior – difficulties communicating, compulsive behaviors and the like – they often jump to conclusions. Diagnosing autism spectrum disorders isn’t a matter that should be taken lightly. The process involves lengthy discussions with a family pediatrician who may or may not have any experience dealing with autistic children.

If you suspect that your child has a developmental disorder, but your doctor seems out of his or her element on the matter, get a referral to see a specialist. You’ll then encounter a number of diagnostic tests, including long interviews with the specialist which will be studied afterward. When the diagnosis finally arrives, you’ll have plenty to think about it. The market is saturated with products that ostensibly treat autism to some extent or another.

In order to effectively treat the disorder, you’ll need to trace it back to its roots. Many doctors suspect that the onset of autism in young children correlates with mercury-based preservatives in vaccines. The long-term effects of mercury poisoning match up with the symptoms of autism. Considering that mercury stays in the brain for years and years following the original exposure, it’s crucial that parents take a proactive approach to treating the problem.

The birth of a child is supposed to be one of the highlights of a mother’s life. It offers her a chance to display a whole new side – that of caregiver and nurturer. Unfortunately, the joys of childbirth are occasionally tempered by disturbing circumstances. When children are found to have birth defects, parents immediately think of all of the special care and costs associated with the condition.

Although the precise cause of most birth defects is difficult to pinpoint, there are a number of well-known risk factors that have been shown to be contributors. For example, women with high rates of exposure to heavy metals during pregnancy put their unborn children at significant risk. The effects of birth defects mercury poisoning causes are lasting and far-reaching.

Luckily, the general awareness about mercury and its dangers to humans is more widespread these days than ever before. Mercury exposure is rare, but an overabundance of seafood – especially shark, swordfish, halibut, salmon and canned tuna – can cause harm to pregnant women. After childbirth, it’s crucial that parents pay close attention to the vaccines their kids receive. Mercury has been used as a vaccination preservative in the past, and parents can never be too careful.

By now many of you have undoubtedly heard about the disastrous effects of thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative that found its way into some children’s vaccines in recent years. Unsurprisingly, the fallout has been tremendous, and the medical establishment has been taken to task for its negligence and incompetence on the issue. While many parents are understandably angered and confused by their children’s exposure to a dangerous heavy metal, it’s important to correctly diagnose a problem before its treatment is addressed.

The Environmental Protection Agency lists the following problems as potential mercury poisoning symptoms. Peripheral vision is generally impaired, and patients complain of “pins and needles” sensations in their extremities. Coordination suffers as do speech, hearing, a motor function. Mood swings and memory loss are also common. If your child seems to be experiencing some or all of these symptoms, he or she should be examined by a medical professional. The sooner the problem is diagnosed, the sooner it can be resolved through innovative techniques.

In the last few weeks, we’ve dwelled on headlines that allude to the possibility of mercury-based preservatives in vaccines including that of the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu. Today, let’s shift gears and investigate a potential solution for families that are already struggling with the scourge of autism as caused by mercury poisoning. Even if you’re feeling down, remember that there’s always hope.

Chelation therapy is one of the most popular forms of heavy-metal detox, and, along with the similar clathration therapy, has been proven an effective treatment of mercury-poisoning-related conditions. It’s important to note that in most cases the human body is capable of flushing mercury from the system in short order – but that’s not true of the heavy metal that reaches the brain. Once lodged inside the brain, mercury stays for years at a time unless it’s forced out through detoxification methods. With chelation therapy, you can wage a war against contaminants at the molecular level by dispatching chelating agents that counteract and remove mercury from the system.

As a parent, it can be shocking a dispiriting to learn that your child has developed autism. The disorder is seldom simple to diagnose, and it’s likewise difficult to pinpoint a cause. This ordeal is made even worse in the case of regressive autism, which manifests itself later, after the child has begun to speak and develop normally. Very few people could imagine the heartbreaking process of watching a child’s social and language skills slipping away.

There are people out there who understand, however. Autism support groups offer limitless advice and resources to help deal with a problem that most of America overlooks or misunderstands. Support groups are especially helpful because no two cases of autism are exactly alike. Every family’s situation is different, but it certainly helps to converse with others who are experiencing similar frustrations.

Support groups should be thought of as one of several ways for parents to deal with their child’s disorder. The other major part involves a dedicated search for effective treatment options. If, for example, a child was given vaccinations with a mercury-based preservative at a tender age, parents owe it to themselves to explore heavy metal detox. And as they pursue these treatment options, parents can offer each other advice in a constructive support group forum.

The link between early exposure to mercury and the onset of autism is well established, but it’s not always easy to pinpoint where and when such an exposure occurs. Mercury occurs in nature and is found in varying levels in fish and shellfish. As a result, many expecting mothers tend to shy away from eating any of these foods at all. The reality is that fish and shellfish are rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential to brain development.

It may seem like a paradox, then, that fish contain both a substance that boosts brain development – omega-3 – as well as one that can significantly stunt mental faculties – mercury. As is often the case, moderation is the key to enjoying the benefits of seafood without suffering the detrimental effects. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that pregnant women eat up to two meals a week of low-mercury fish and shellfish, which includes canned tuna, salmon and shrimp. On the other hand, pregnant women are urged to avoid eating shark or swordfish because of the high mercury levels inherent to these fish.

Mercury intake is not limited to naturally occurring methylmercury in fish and shellfish, unfortunately. The birth defects mercury poisoning causes have also been found in connection with vaccinations that contain the heavy metal as a preservative.

It’s hard to believe, but the human body requires certain heavy metals to function properly. No, not that kind of heavy metal – you can make it through the day just fine without cranking up some Black Sabbath. Rather, humans would be unable to survive without various amounts of copper, zinc, iron and other metals. Iron deficiencies prevent blood from clotting, and they also afflict sufferers with a ghostly pallor.

Toxic metals, on the other hand, play no part in sustaining human life. Instead, they prove dangerous and volatile.

Mercury falls squarely into this second camp. When humans come into frequent or prolonged contact with mercury, the results can be catastrophic. Signs of mercury poisoning include excessive peeling skin, discoloration, rapid heartbeat, muscle weakness and others. It has even been linked to the onset of autism in some cases. Mercury poisoning is highly treatable if caught in the early stages; a careful investigation should be performed of one’s surroundings in order to locate and remove the problem’s source.

While short term exposure to mercury can cause effects such as bloating and redness of the skin, the long term effects can be much more damaging. Mercury is an extremely volatile substance, and if even a small amount of elemental mercury were to enter the blood stream, the result could be fatal. Long term exposure to mercury, which most often occurs with organic mercury that is found in plants and fish, can cause side effects including kidney failure, nervous system damage, and even autism. While the exact cause of autism isn’t known, it’s long been suspected that environmental factors, such as exposure to mercury, can increase the risk of autism in children. Exposure to organic mercury might not be the sole cause autism, but it is certainly a contributor. The effects of mercury poisoning are severe, and it’s important for pregnant women to avoid foods that contain mercury and avoid exposure to mercury.

Mercury is found in all kinds of household items in larger quantities including fluorescent light bulbs and certain thermometers. Mercury is also contained in the preservative thimerosal, which is used in childhood vaccines. Mothers should be extra careful when vaccinating their child.

When we think of mercury poisoning, most people imagine someone coming into physical contact with the substance known as elemental mercury.  This can cause swelling, redness, and certain internal conditions.  However, much more dangerous than coming into physical contact with elemental mercury is exposure to organic mercury over a lifetime.  Organic mercury is most prominent in fish, including swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and white tuna.  Mercury becomes absorbed into these fish as they consume smaller fish, and the concentrations of mercury then become even greater.  It’s recommended that pregnant women and women who are nursing avoid eating the above listed fish, and limit their intake of all other fish and shellfish to about 12 oz. per week.  Eating fish can cause children to develop serious health conditions, and mercury poisoning symptoms at birth often relate to limited or poor nervous system and neural development.

There are also vaccine preservatives that contain mercury, like thimerosal, which have been linked to mercury poisoning and autism in children.  It’s important for all mothers to be aware of the dangers of mercury poisoning before having a child.  

When a child is an infant, it’s often a fun but sometimes stressful time for parents.  Parents love to witness their child discover new things, mirrors, rattles, and of course, how to make loud noises and draw their parent’s attention.  But it’s also important to be a little cautious with infants, as it is this stage of life that is crucial to future development.  Infants require constant attention and constant care from their parents, including proper nutrition, social interaction, and immunizations.  It’s also important for parents to be aware of the dangers that certain accepted practices can pose to their children.  For example, certain childhood vaccines might cause birth defects mercury poisoning due to preservatives in the vaccines that contain mercury.  It’s best to check with doctors and physicians beforehand about what is being injected into an infant, and to recognize the dangers associated with all substances that come into contact with the infant’s body. 

It’s possible to remove toxins from the body with treatment like chelation therapy, probiotics, and PCA-Rx.  These treatments target heavy metals, like mercury, and purge them from the body.