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Dealing With Neurological Issues Caused By Toxins

by — Last updated: 2016-04-19 in Nervous System Disorders and Diseases

Table of Contents

Researchers and scientists have identified over a dozen chemicals and substances which are proven to be responsible for cognitive and behavioural related problems by affecting the brain negatively.
The term used for neurological symptoms caused by the mentioned toxins is toxic encephalopathy. This condition is degenerative in nature and can be characterized by issues such as memory loss, altered mental status and visual problems.

Other symptoms of toxic encephalopathy can include:

  • Increased irritability
  • Small personality changes
  • Difficulty to concentrate and lack of focus
  • Fatigue
  • Involuntary movements
  • Possible convulsions
  • Weakness in the limbs

Prevention and treatment

If there's acute exposure to a chemical or toxin, then the patient needs to be managed in an hospital setting where they can be stabilized and then treated accordingly for the specific toxin they were exposed to.

In a situation where the patient has been exposed to these toxins over a long period of time, then the management protocol varies slightly. Chronic exposure can lead to irreversible damage to the neurons in the brain and therefore these patients are treated symptomatically.

The first thing to do, in all situations, is to remove exposure to the offending toxin.

Even if there has been chronic exposure to the chemical, this prevents any further damage from occurring. Dietary intervention and nutritional and vitamin supplementation can be beneficial to some patients. Anticonvulsant medication can also be prescribed to decrease the incidence of or stop seizures. Dialysis or even organ transplantation may be required in severe cases where kidney and/or liver damage has also occurred. If depression is present then this also has to be managed.

Very importantly; counseling, occupational therapy and social services need to be offered to these patients. Provision of life strategies and coping skills need to be learned by these patients in order to be able to deal with the disabilities they have due to toxin exposure.

Babies who were born to mothers who were exposed to toxins which harm the brain were shown to exhibit behavioural and cognitive changes in their developmental years. Pregnant women should then try to avoid exposure to these harmful products.

These are ways in which they can reduce their risk of chemical exposure:

  • They should avoid painting.
  • Be wary of moving into older properties which could be painted with lead based paints.
  • Use of pesticides should also be avoided and pregnant women should wear gloves when gardening to avoid any accidental contact with harmful substances. Eating organic fruit also avoids ingestion of pesticides.
  • Fish intake is very important but there are those that have high mercury content in them. Low mercury containing seafood include trout, calamari, crab prawns/shrimp and Alaskan salmon.

READ A Brief Practical Guide To Removing Toxins From The Body

Prognosis

In acute toxic exposure, the patient can have a favourable outcome if they are managed appropriately and on time. Patients with chronic exposure, most of the time, unfortunately have irreversible damage done to the brain. This then leads to behavioural and cognitive changes which affect their social functioning as well as causing attention and information processing impairment. The latter can last up to 10 years after exposure to toxins has ceased.

    The best way to avoid damage to the brain by harmful toxins is to try and avoid then as far as possible. Be aware of your surroundings and living quarters, avoid harmful chemicals and try using natural alternatives rather.