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How Long Does It Take To Lower High Mercury Levels In Blood?
Question: Mercury poisinging from fish. My husband and I have mercury levels that are high, mine is 31, not sure what his is, but Drs say it's high. What is high" What are the symptons? My husband has Parkinson's would some symptons be Parkinson's like syptoms (sp). How long does it take get it out of our systems? THANKS
Brief Answer:
Here follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.
I really feel concerned about this mercury problem of your's and your husband.
Answering your queries pointwise-
1)High levels of mercury-Blood Mercury levels are usually less than 2 mcg/dL in unexposed individuals.More than this level(this cut-off level can vary from lab to lab) can be taken as high level of mercury.However,blood levels in the range of 10-20 mcg/dL can result in neurological complications.
2)Symptoms-
The characteristic features of chronic mercury toxicity are sensory disturbances,constriction of visual fields,progressive ataxia,tremor and cognitive disturbances.
Parkinsonian symptoms may also be a part of the syndrome,often.
3)Mercury declines in our bodies with a half-life of about 50 days.
Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some follow-up questions,I shall be glad to answer else please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Here follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.
I really feel concerned about this mercury problem of your's and your husband.
Answering your queries pointwise-
1)High levels of mercury-Blood Mercury levels are usually less than 2 mcg/dL in unexposed individuals.More than this level(this cut-off level can vary from lab to lab) can be taken as high level of mercury.However,blood levels in the range of 10-20 mcg/dL can result in neurological complications.
2)Symptoms-
The characteristic features of chronic mercury toxicity are sensory disturbances,constriction of visual fields,progressive ataxia,tremor and cognitive disturbances.
Parkinsonian symptoms may also be a part of the syndrome,often.
3)Mercury declines in our bodies with a half-life of about 50 days.
Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some follow-up questions,I shall be glad to answer else please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
XXXXXXX went to his neurology appointment last week, 4 weeks after the blood test were done. His Parkinson's neurologist did not seem concerned about the mercury poisoning, by the way, we think it is because we have been eating swordfish almost every Friday for 4 years. Should his neurologist have been concerned? Will the symptoms be reversed when the mercury is out of our systems? Could my breathing issues be from this. Thank you, you have been a great help.
XXXX
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Symptoms should get reversed if they are due to mercury toxicity.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
Of course,the blood levels of mercury are expected to be higher in regular swordfish eaters.I mentioned the normal blood levels below 2mcg/dL in unexposed individuals(unexposed to seafood,in the practical sense),but in exposed individuals they are obviously expected to be in the higher range.
Although,once a week of fish eating should not cause toxic manifestations of mercury,however,since it has been a long time(4 years),the possibility can't be entirely negated.
At this point of time,it can't be said conclusively whether mercury 'is' or 'is not' causing the symptoms.
Only the forthcoming few months will tell whether the mercury is causing the symptoms.Since you have stopped consuming that fish,in 2-3 months time,symptoms should improve or reverse if mercury is the cause,otherwise not.
Breathing difficulty or respiratory involvement is also a feature of mercury toxicity.But again,the causative relationship here is not yet established.
No neurologist,at this time,can rule in or rule out the effects of mercury causing the symptoms.However,if some alternative neurological cause is found,then possibility of mercury as a cause decreases.
Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some follow-up questions,I shall be glad to answer else please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Symptoms should get reversed if they are due to mercury toxicity.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
Of course,the blood levels of mercury are expected to be higher in regular swordfish eaters.I mentioned the normal blood levels below 2mcg/dL in unexposed individuals(unexposed to seafood,in the practical sense),but in exposed individuals they are obviously expected to be in the higher range.
Although,once a week of fish eating should not cause toxic manifestations of mercury,however,since it has been a long time(4 years),the possibility can't be entirely negated.
At this point of time,it can't be said conclusively whether mercury 'is' or 'is not' causing the symptoms.
Only the forthcoming few months will tell whether the mercury is causing the symptoms.Since you have stopped consuming that fish,in 2-3 months time,symptoms should improve or reverse if mercury is the cause,otherwise not.
Breathing difficulty or respiratory involvement is also a feature of mercury toxicity.But again,the causative relationship here is not yet established.
No neurologist,at this time,can rule in or rule out the effects of mercury causing the symptoms.However,if some alternative neurological cause is found,then possibility of mercury as a cause decreases.
Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some follow-up questions,I shall be glad to answer else please close the thread,rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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