If levels are high, changes in diet and various over-the-counter and prescription drugs may help minimize the harm.
Acute lead contamination, such as the accidental swallowing of lead shot, may require surgery.
It also explains how chelation therapy works and at what level of exposure the procedure is recommended.
Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
It should bediagnosed by a healthcare provider, and the treatment managed by a healthcare provider.
Home Remedies and Lifestyle
Lead exposure is more likely in certain homes and environments than in others.
Certain industries also place employees at an increased risk of lead exposure.
Until you remove lead from these environmentsor you remove yourself from these environmentsyou trigger the risk of lead poisoning.
Lead poisoning is often identified when high-risk individuals or communities are screened by public health authorities.
you’re free to do the same in and around your own home.
you might also take simple precautions to reduce the risk of environmental exposure.
Unrenovated homes built before 1978 are more likely to have lead paint and lead water pipes.
This is mainly because both lead and calcium are competing for the same spaces in bone tissues.
Overusing supplements can have serious consequences, includingvitamin toxicity.
Prescriptions
Prescription drugs may be used to treat neurological symptoms of lead poisoning.
Leadencephalopathyoccurs when lead penetrates themembrane surrounding the brainand starts breaking down tissues.
This leads to brain swelling (cerebral edema).
Symptoms include the loss of muscle control, an altered mental state,delirium, andseizures.
There are several chelation drugs used to treat lead poisoning.
Even so, this level of toxicity doesn’t mean that chelation therapy is needed.
Adults with high blood lead levels or symptoms of lead poisoning may also be treated.
The decision to treat is an individual one based on a review of the potential benefits and risks.
This is referred to as acute lead contamination.
Examples of acute lead contamination include the accidental swallowing of lead shot or lead-glazed ceramics.
Lead can also enter the body following a traumatic injury involving shrapnel or lead-containing bullets.
This includes identifying and removing sources of lead from your home and environment.
Diet and dietary supplements may aid in reducing lead absorption.
As beneficial as chelation therapy is, it does carry risks.
The intravenous chelating agent dimercaprol cannot be used in people with a peanut allergy.
No, it is not possible to treat lead poisoning naturally.
Chelation therapy is the only treatment that can remove lead from the body.
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.Protect your family from lead in your home (English).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Lead in foods, cosmetics, and medicines.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.Basic information about lead in drinking water.
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Iron: health professionals fact sheet.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC updates blood lead reference value.
