Arsenic Poisoning Treatment

One of the most notoriously poisonous metallic elements on earth is what is known as arsenic. It has an atomic number of 33, atomic mass of 74.92 amu, and it got isolated by Albertus Magnus, a German Dominican, in the year 1250. One important fact is that arsenic possesses the property of both metals and non-metals, ergo, it is classified under the Metalloid elements in the Mendeleev's Periodic Table. Now coming to the main subject, arsenic, as mentioned, is a poisonous metalloid. However, it is interesting to know that the compounds which make the element are more toxic than the element itself. For instance, the compound arsenic trioxide is known to induce more damage than arsenic in its pure form.

Symptoms Exhibited in Arsenic Poisoning

The common symptoms that indicates a person being poisoned with arsenic may include:

• Increased agitation for no apparent reason
• Abnormal thirst
• Allergic reactions
• Anxiety
• Chest pain, feeling of tightness in the chest
• Confusion
• Depression
• Digestive problem such as constipation
• Dry eyes
• Dry mouth
• Ear ache
• Excessive perspiration
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Flushing
• Headache
• Irregular pulse
• Lack of sleep
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Mouth sores
• Nausea, vomiting
• Nosebleeds
• Pale skin
• Post nasal drip
• Rapid breathing
• Reduced urination
• Seizures
• Skin becomes dark
• Skin lesions
• Sore throat
• Spells of drowsiness
• Spitting up of blood
• Tenderness and swelling of different parts of the body such as the ankles, feet or hands
• Tinnitus
• Tremors
• Weight loss
• Wheezing

How is Arsenic Poisoning Treated?

The lungs, skin, kidneys, and liver are the organs of the body that are hugely affected by this poisoning. And as I have mentioned at the beginning of the article, arsenic poisoning is a matter best left to medical experts. So the right thing to do is to call for medical help as soon as you suspect the poisoning. At the doctor's, the condition is treated with the help of various chemical and synthetic methods and procedures. Normally, in most types of metallic poisoning, chelating agents are used for removing the metal from the blood stream. In this case, the agents are dimercaprol and dimercaptosuccinic acid.

In a certain study, laboratory rats were fed with arsenic-contaminated water daily. The animals were also fed with garlic extracts everyday. Results showed that the amount of arsenic in their blood was cut down to 40% and that 45% more of the toxic was excreted through urine. Now what made garlic do this trick? It is nothing but the sulfur in it, that helps in removing arsenic from the blood and tissues. What the study meant to prove was, people who stay at a high risk zone of being exposed to arsenic, must include garlic as an important part of their daily diet. 1 - 2 cloves are enough to prevent the poisoning. In some cases, eating fiber rich foods has also shown great improvements in reducing the danger of the poisoning.

And to conclude this article, it is better to avoid trying any home remedies hoping to treat a condition such as arsenic poisoning. You never know the damage that the toxic might have caused or the extent of poisoning in the body. It is important to realize if you are being exposed to this metal, and watch out for the symptoms as mentioned above. And once you do, get immediate medical help so that you can keep the condition from getting worse. Remember, whatever non-accidental deaths that occur in the United States, arsenic is said to be one of the first five causes.