In my clinical practice, one of my main areas of focus is helping patients improve their longevity. I am consistently looking for areas that my patients can change so they can live healthier and happier lives. Let’s talk about an overlooked risk factor - heavy metal exposure.
We know from established research that high levels of lead are associated with elevated blood pressure, increased heart sizes and increased deaths from heart attacks and strokes. After the disaster in Flint, MI many people are becoming aware of the harms that can come from lead exposure.
However, we are now learning, that there truly is no safe level of lead exposure, and that even low level exposure to heavy metals can increase risk of developing disease. In a 2018, a study published in the Lancet followed over 18,000 adults from the US with low levels of metals in their blood or urine for almost 20 years to understand if low levels of metals were associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease or death. The results were shocking.
“The estimated number of deaths from all causes & cardiovascular disease that were attributable to concentrations of lead in blood were surprisingly large; indeed, they were comparable with the number of deaths from current tobacco smoke exposure.”
If you value your health, it is quite unlikely that you smoke. However, how many people why worry about having a heart attack have been tested for heavy metals?
In my office, I advise patients to screen for heavy metals using both a blood and a urine sample due to the fact that certain metals, like lead and mercury are detected accurately in the blood, while others like arsenic or are only accurately measured in urine. If heavy metals are found then I prescribe a gentle detoxification program that does not require costly or experimental IV treatment.
Would you like help testing your body for heavy metals?
References:
Lanphear BP, Rauch S, Auinger P, Allen RW, Hornung RW. Low-level lead exposure and mortality in US adults: a population-based cohort study. Lancet Public Health. 2018;3(4):e177-e184. doi:10.1016/S2468-2667(18)30025-2