Elderly Fade
PodcastDX
This week's episode has the cohosts talking about social isolation and earlier death among the elderly population. Studies have shown that loneliness is associated with a higher risk of mortality in older adults. For example, one study found that individuals experiencing loneliness at one or more points in time had a higher hazard for mortality compared to those who never experienced loneliness. Loneliness can trigger physiological stress responses, potentially leading to chronic inflammation and reduced immunity. These factors can contribute to the development of...
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Tularemia or Rabbit Fever
PodcastDX
Tularemia is a highly infectious disease you get from the bacterium F. tularensis. You can get it from bug bites, infected animals, contaminated water or food, and particles of bacteria in the air. Tularemia can affect your skin, eyes, throat, lungs and intestines. Tularemia should be treated as soon as possible with antibiotics. We will not have a guest for this week, but would love to invite anyone who has been diagnosed with Tularemia to be a guest on a future show. Tularemia causes your lymph nodes to painfully swell and other symptoms in your lungs, eyes, throat and intestines,...
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Blastomycosis
PodcastDX
Our guest for this week is Sara Olson. Sara (her TikTok name is ) is from the Wolf River area of Wisconsin which just happens to hold the highest concentration of the fungus that causes Blastomycosis. When Sara got Blastomycosis in January 2024, she thought it was 'just the flu'. With a chest xray, she was diagnosed with pneumonia. Several rounds of antibiotics didn't help so she did a CT scan where they found an embolism. Still not knowing anything else, they continued treating her for bacterial pneumonia. They did a swab of her sputum in which her health...
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Cruising to Disaster
PodcastDX
When people ask about getting sick on a cruise ship, they’re often worried about . But what happens if you catch a nasty cold, sprain your ankle, or (even worse) have a serious medical emergency like a heart attack? Rest assured, because cruise ships are well prepared. Are there doctors on cruise ships? Of course! Cruise ships will always have at least one doctor along with a staff of nurses. Larger ships will have more personnel with larger infirmaries. What kind of medications do they have? If you you’re looking for aspirin, seasickness meds or other basic over-the-counter meds, you...
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Waste Water Monitoring
PodcastDX
Wastewater monitoring is a valuable, efficient, and robust tool that public health officials can use to guide public health decision making across the nation. When we turn on the tap or flush the toilet, we often don’t think about where all that water goes. Wastewater, the used water from our homes, schools, and businesses, holds valuable information about the health of our community. Wastewater monitoring can help cities manage wastewater effectively and also creates a safer, healthier, and more responsive living environment for their communities. This blog takes a closer look at five...
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Health & Human Services
PodcastDX
The Public Health Agencies are created to deliver on the Government's commitment to help protect the health and safety of all people and communities in whatever country they live in. For example: Canada's activities focus on: promoting health, well-being and equity protecting against threats to public health preventing and reducing diseases and injury Health Canada is responsible for helping Canadians maintain and improve their health. It ensures that high-quality health services are accessible, and works to reduce health risks. The UK supports ministers in leading the nation’s...
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Fluoride and Healthy Teeth
PodcastDX
Fluoride has been in the news recently with some people questioning the worth of adding this vital mineral to the water supplies in the United States. Fluoride repairs and prevents damage to teeth caused by bacteria in the mouth. Bacteria in the mouth produce acid when a person eats or drinks. The acid dissolves minerals in a tooth's surface, making the tooth weaker and open to cavities. Fluoride replaces the minerals lost from a tooth due to acid breakdown. Some fluoride can replace minerals in the tooth surface, making the outer enamel layer harder to dissolve. Fluoride also may...
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Cannabis and the Heart
PodcastDX
Many people assume that ingesting cannabis — whether through edibles, oils, or tinctures — eliminates the cardiovascular risks associated with smoking it. While it's true that edibles avoid the harmful byproducts of combustion (such as carbon monoxide and tar), ingested cannabis still carries significant heart health risks due to the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), its main psychoactive compound. When THC is absorbed through the digestive system, it can cause substantial increases in heart rate and blood pressure — sometimes more dramatically than when cannabis is smoked or...
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Stress and the Immune System re-run
PodcastDX
This week we have re-posting a brief insight to the fact that stress can play havoc on the immune system and we hope to have a new guest soon to discuss this weighty problem. If you are a member of the health care community and would like to be a guest on our show to discuss how stress affects the immune system, please drop us a line at . Remember chronic stress = excessive cortisol and too much cortisol = a host of medical ailments. Poor sleep Cortisol levels are supposed to drop at nighttime, allowing your body to relax and recharge. But if your...
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Navigating the VA
PodcastDX
This week's episode is very special for all of the veterans out there... We welcome back three previous guests to discuss receiving healthcare at the Veteran Health Administration (VHA) a component of the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). Our main guest (from left to right above) is Mark Frerichs, a Navy veteran who was held captive by the Taliban while working as a government contractor in Afghanistan. His battle didn't end with his eventual release and he was home trying to get the health care services he deserved. Supporting him are: Kristal Kent, an Army veteran...
info_outlineHeavy metal poisoning (toxicity) is the result of exposure to heavy metals like lead, mercury and arsenic. Heavy metals bind to parts of your cells that prevent your organs from doing their job. Symptoms of heavy metal poisoning can be life threatening and they can cause irreversible damage.
Heavy metal poisoning occurs when microscopic molecules of metals accumulate within your body after exposure. Heavy metals attach to your cells and prevent them from performing their functions, which causes symptoms that could be life threatening without treatment.
What metals cause heavy metal poisoning (toxicity)?
Several metals can be toxic to your body. The most common toxic metals are:
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Lead. Contaminated water from lead pipes, batteries, paint, gasoline, construction materials.
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Mercury. Liquid in thermometers, lightbulbs, dental amalgam (“silver”) fillings, batteries, seafood, topical antiseptics.
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Arsenic. Topical creams, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, fungicides, paints, enamels, glass, contaminated water, seafood, algae.
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Cadmium. Cigarette smoke, metal plating, batteries.
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Thallium. Rodenticides, pesticides, fireworks.
How does someone get heavy metal poisoning?
You can get heavy metal poisoning by exposing yourself to heavy metals. Heavy metals form naturally within the Earth’s crust. We interact with small amounts of heavy metals every day, like when you check the temperature of your thermometer, which uses mercury. Heavy metal poisoning occurs when metals get into your body. This can happen if you’re exposed to a large amount of metal including:
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Eating a lot of food that contains metals (fish).
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Drinking water from older water supply systems.
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Working with metals on the job.
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Taking medications or supplements with high amounts of metallic elements.
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Handling metals or products made with a large amount of metal (like paint or pesticides) without using personal protective equipment.
Most metals that cause poisoning are in a microscopic (molecular) form when they enter your body. They are so small, you won’t be able to see them. Heavy metals can enter your body by:
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Absorbing into your skin.
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Breathing in or inhaling tiny metal molecules.
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Eating or drinking (ingesting) the metal from food or water.
Who does heavy metal poisoning affect?
Heavy metal poisoning can affect anyone who has exposure to heavy metals. This most often affects people who:
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Drink water from pipes made of older metals (lead).
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Work with metals.
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Take more than the prescribed dosage of medicine or supplements that contain metal.
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Live in an environment with high air or water pollution.
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Eat a lot of foods that contain metal.
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Consume a non-edible product made with metal (paint).
Children are at a higher risk of heavy metal poisoning because their bodies are still developing and they are more sensitive to the harmful effects of heavy metals.
How common is heavy metal poisoning?
The exact rate of occurrence is unknown, but in the United States, heavy metal poisoning is rare since it only affects people who have exposure to heavy metals. The number of people diagnosed with heavy metal poisoning decreased significantly over the last 20 years because of awareness and preventative measures to remove heavy metals from homes.
What does heavy metal poisoning do to my body?
Exposure to heavy metals can be dangerous to your health. While we use and interact with metals every day, certain heavy metals are toxic because the molecules that make up the metal damage or negatively interact with the cells in your body that are essential to keep your organs functioning.
Your body has small amounts of metals in it already, like iron, copper and zinc. These metals are important to keep your organs functioning. If you have too much metal accumulated within your body, it can damage your vital organs like your brain and liver. (credits: Cleveland Clinic)