Help With Autism

Since the toxic nature of mercury has been discovered, there has been a concerted effort to eradicate it from products that the public is commonly exposed to. However, mercury is still found in a variety of rocks and minerals. In this day and age, most of the mercury that we are exposed to comes through food such as fish. Mercury is most dangerous, however, when it is present in the blood stream.

Although mercury poisoning is a risk to us all, it is particularly detrimental to pregnant mothers and newborn children. When children are exposed to high levels of mercury in the womb or at an early age, it can damage major organs such as the brain, kidneys, heart and lungs, as well as the immune system. Today there are several rules and regulations in place to ensure that the public isn’t exposed to excessive levels of the element.

Before we knew the hazards of mercury, the element was found in a wide range of products that people used on a daily basis. Although it has been largely eradicated from our day-to-day lives, we are still inevitably exposed to mercury. The most common source of mercury for many people is seafood.

Even though our exposure to mercury pales in comparison to peak levels, mercury poisoning is still a concern. There is a litany of mercury poisoning symptoms, and if you experience them, it is advisable to seek out a qualified physician. Some of the most common include depression, anxiety, speech problems and cognitive impairments.

With all that is now known about genetics and heredity, we not only have to consider our own health, but also that of our offspring and future descendants. While abstaining from smoking cigarettes and fatty foods can prevent passing along certain traits, there are several genes, conditions and diseases that we bestow that are largely out of our control. To that end, there are several birth defects mercury poisoning can be the cause of.

Severe cases of mercury poisoning can lead to a disease known as Minamata. While people with the disease are more likely to pass on certain defects to their children, it is also possible that mercury poisoning can cause birth defects even when there are no signs in the parent. There are several documented cases where children were born with severe birth defects that are believed to be linked to mercury poisoning, despite the parents showing no symptoms themselves.

With the release of a new Alice in Wonderland movie and Johnny Depp cast as the iconic Mad Hatter, the characters from Lewis Carroll’s classic novel are once again at the forefront of popular culture. Over the years, there has been much debate as to the nature of the Mad Hatter, but an article I read recently shed some light on the topic. Before its adverse effects were known, hatters used to use mercury when curing materials for their products.

This exposure to mercury, it is expected, led many hatters to actually go insane and is probably the origin of the term “as mad as a hatter.” Some of the effects of mercury poisoning include mood swings, schizoid tendencies, irrational fears and poor concentration. Many people hypothesize that Carroll’s personal hatter may have suffered from the effects of mercury poisoning and spawned the character.

By now you are probably well aware of the dangers inherent from exposure to mercury and other heavy metals. While we all get some degree of exposure in our everyday lives, too much can cause serious health consequences. Although all people are at risk to mercury poisoning through excessive exposure, children are more likely to fall victim to various heavy metal poisoning.

Some of the most common mercury poisoning symptoms include: psychiatric disturbances, learning impairments and sensory abnormalities. These symptoms are quite similar to those of autism, which has suggested causation between mercury poisoning and the disease. Research shows that in utero exposure to mercury may cause autism, but as of yet, there is no evidence to suggest that post natal exposure leads to the disease.

There is now a wealth of information that has illuminated the risks of heavy metals, particularly mercury poisoning. While many products that used to have mercury have been upgraded to safer materials, the public is still exposed to the element from fish and other foods. Many people are curious as to what birth defects mercury poisoning can have on their children.

No level of mercury is safe for humans, and some studies have suggested that mercury can lead to birth defects. Some researchers believe that the heavy metal may be the cause of autism in children. Many of the characteristics of autism are akin to those of mercury poisoning, such as psychiatric disturbances and defects in speech, language and hearing.

Most of us are aware that there are a myriad of health concerns and negative effects of mercury poisoning. For years mercury was a common substance in household items, such as thermometers, but due to health risks, that is simply not the case anymore. Today, most Americans get the majority of their exposure to mercury from fish and shellfish.

There are several factors that determine how much of a risk any particular exposure to mercury is. One of the biggest of these is the chemical form. Mercury comes in three forms—methyl mercury, elemental mercury, and organic compounds—all of which have different risks. The size of the dose, age of the person, and nature of the exposure, all have an impact on the severity as well.

By now you are probably familiar with the dangers and concerns surrounding mercury poisoning. In the last few decades there has been a concerted effort to eliminate mercury from household items such as thermometers and cosmetics. Despite these efforts, there is still worry over mercury poisoning, and most people consider fish to be one of the main risks today.

All fish store some amount of mercury in their bodies, which is absorbed from the surrounding water. Big, predatory fish like mackerel, shark and swordfish, have higher mercury levels from consuming other mercury-laden fish who are lower on the food chain. Because mercury accumulates throughout their lives, these fish can have astronomical mercury levels by the time they reach your table. Although mercury is present in virtually all fish, many have a negligible amount and are safe to eat.

As a parent, one of my greatest fears came true three years ago. My youngest son was sick, but not with any of the typical viruses that afflict small children. I looked for signs of flu or even the common cold, but there were none. In fact, the problem didn’t have anything to do with his respiratory system – at least not on the surface. When I took him into the pediatrician’s office and he was diagnosed with mercury poisoning a few minutes later, I was utterly flabbergasted.

The mercury poisoning symptoms were all there in front of our noses: his sudden lack of coordination, increased sweating, elevated heartbeat, sensory impairment and dulled memory. According to the doctor, methylmercury had entered the nervous system some months before, and if left untreated it would stay there and wreak even more havoc. The sooner we treated the problem, the fewer long-term effects would remain.

As soon as the diagnosis was handed down, my husband and I began to speculate about the source of the contamination. After throwing out some possibilities – we didn’t eat any more fish than a normal family, nor does our son have any amalgam fillings – the answer became clear. There had been a mercury-based preservative in one of his routine vaccinations. Needless to say, we were outraged. I recommend that every parent becomes familiar with the warning signs so that they can seek treatment right away.

By now most of us are familiar with H1N1 influenza, colloquially known as swine flu, a respiratory condition that has besieged many workplaces and a few universities as well. The flu is still relatively new to the American public, as it was first identified in spring of this year. H1N1 is particularly troublesome because of how quickly and easily it can spread from one person to another.

A vaccine has been formulated and made available to the public for the 2009-10 fuel season, which lasts until next May. The vaccine purports to prevent the following flu symptoms: fever, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting. If infected, most individuals experience flu-like symptoms for eight days. Although the Centers for Disease Control would have us believe that flu vaccines are safe, it’s important to weigh the benefits and drawbacks.

The H1N1 vaccine does contain thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative that has been linked in some studies to the onset of autism in young children. Anyone who has read about or experienced the effects of mercury poisoning knows how harmful that toxic metal can be when it’s unleashed on human tissue. The Mayo Clinic recommends the following swine flu prevention options: stay home when you’re sick, wash your hands regularly and avoid contact with crowds.