A study of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2004 showed that increased lead levels were associated with older age, low socionomic status, being born in Mexico, smoking, poor kidney function and living in a home built before 1978 (due to lead-based paint). There were also concerns that consuming herbal products was associated with high lead levels. More recently, many products from China have been found contaminated with lead, and lead has been found in the food supply as well. This study tells us that we must be very careful about our sources of herbal products. The ones we provide to patients have been tested for purity. Despite being cautious about environmental exposures, all of us should be tested for lead with a challenge test. High levels of lead not only decrease IQ but also increase the incidence of heart attacks, strokes, cancer, arthritis and premature death. Do not overlook this extremely important, common risk factor. It can be detected easily and treated with chelation therapy.
See www.familypracticenews.com July 15, 2008, p. 47.
No comments:
Post a Comment