What happens if you ingest steel

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National Institutes of Health. COVID is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation. Menu Search Home Diseases Heavy metal poisoning. You can help advance rare disease research!

This site is in-development and may not reflect the final version. Preview the new GARD site. Other Names:. Chronic heavy metal poisoning; Heavy Metal Toxicity. Summary Summary. Symptoms Symptoms. Signs and symptoms of heavy metal poisoning vary depending on the type and amount of metal involved. Excessive exposure and damage to several organs can occur even if a person has no symptoms. Some signs and symptoms of metal poisoning may include: [1] [2] Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea the hallmark symptoms with most cases of acute metal ingestion Dehydration Heart abnormalities such as cardiomyopathy or abnormal heart beat dysrhythmia Nervous system symptoms e.

Do you have updated information on this disease? We want to hear from you. Diagnosis Diagnosis. Diagnosing heavy metal poisoning can be difficult, as it relies on having a known exposure and positive results on approved tests. Your symptoms and specific exposure will determine which test you receive. The following metals are the ones most tested for:. Duration depends on the type and amount of metal a person has been exposed to. Long-term exposure can result in severe neurological damage or cancer.

Here are some complications that may arise from each: Lead Poisoning Overexposure can lead to high blood pressure and damage to your reproductive organs. Arsenic Poisoning Overexposure can cause neurological problems, gastrointestinal issues, cancer, and low blood pressure. Cadmium Poisoning You may experience decreased lung and kidney function. Research suggests that gender may influence how a person reacts to metal toxicity, but more research needs to be done to confirm how and why.

From to , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of children ages 1 to 5 years with elevated blood lead levels declined from Unborn children and children younger than 3 are most vulnerable to lead poisoning, per Kids Health. Black children have the highest rates of elevated blood lead levels in the United States.

In a study, published in March in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health , of national survey data of almost 5, children collected over an year period, researchers found that Black children living in poverty are 4 times as likely as poor white or Hispanic children to have elevated levels of lead in their blood. Environmental Working Group Founded in , the group educates the public on the ingredients, chemicals, and potential toxins that we interact with on a daily basis.

Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking. References Heavy Metal Poisoning. National Organization for Rare Disorders. Oregon Public Health. May Genetic and Rare Diseases Center. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights.

Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. It's not uncommon to accidentally swallow a foreign object i.

In some cases, a foreign object can pass through the body without causing any problems. However, if something gets lodged in your esophagus or contains dangerous materials such as certain types of batteries , it can cause a dangerous blockage or tear. Here's what to do if you or someone else swallows a foreign object, including symptoms to watch for and when to seek emergency care. The mouth is the first stop in the body's gastrointestinal GI tract , which also includes the esophagus , stomach, small and large intestines, and the rectum.

When you swallow anything—food, drink, or a foreign non-food object—it travels through the GI tract, or gut. When a foreign object is swallowed, it can get stuck in the esophagus, a small, soft tube that runs from the mouth to the stomach. The esophagus has thin, very flexible walls that can easily catch and bind hard objects that are trying to pass. The walls of the esophagus are so flexible that when it is empty, it collapses almost flat, like a fire hose with no water in it. If a foreign body makes it past your esophagus, it has a pretty good chance of making it all the way through the GI tract.

The only way to know for sure that someone you know has swallowed a foreign object is to see them do it. But even if you didn't see them swallow something, there are definite signs and symptoms that should make you pay attention, especially if you suspect something was swallowed that shouldn't have been. The esophagus and airway trachea are located side by side in the neck. Foreign objects that get stuck at the top of the esophagus can also enter the trachea.

If the object is large enough, it can actually push on the trachea from inside the esophagus and interrupt air flow to the lungs. In some cases, foreign objects can cause serious obstruction of the GI tract or even cut off airflow. Any time you suspect that something was swallowed and it can be felt by the person who swallowed it in the throat or deep in the chest, it's important to seek medical care immediately. Young children explore the world by using their senses, including taste.

In , U. The most common items swallowed by kids are coins, toys, jewelry, and batteries. Button batteries, like the ones used in watches or other electronics, can pose serious risks when swallowed. This risk can vary by the type of battery. For instance, sodium hydroxide batteries can cause chemical burns in the esophagus, while lithium batteries can generate electric currents that can damage the tissue.

Burns from batteries can cause perforations holes in the esophagus and also lead to scar tissue and long-term complications. When it comes to button batteries, size matters. The best cure is prevention when it comes to button batteries, so take extra special care to keep them away from children, especially toddlers. If you suspect that a button battery was swallowed, seek emergency care right away.

Sharp objects, like glass or metal, can injure the thin walls of the esophagus and cause bleeding or an infection in the mediastinum the cavity in the middle of the chest between the lungs. Even if sharp objects make it through the esophagus, they can cause damage in other areas of the GI tract.