General Information

Recognizing Early Warning Signs of Chemical Injury
by Dr. Grace Ziem
(click her name to go to her Biography)

This information is a summary of Recognize Early Warnings! found on Dr. Grace Ziem's web site.
(click the line above to go to her article)

The body often provides early warnings of chemical damage. Being alert to these warnings helps prevent more serious or permanent chemical damage. Take steps to promptly reduce your exposure. This can prevent chemical injury.

Warning symptoms in the beginning are often worse when you are near the chemical exposure, and get better when you are away from the exposure. You can "be a detective" and prevent chemical injury with disability. Using drugs to make symptoms go away can "turn off" early warning allowing further more silent chemical damage. Helping symptoms with medications temporarily is okay, but repeated symptoms can be a warning. Do not neglect the warning signs, since drugs cannot heal chemical injury.

The types of warning symptoms differ somewhat with the chemical(s) involved, and with the individual(s) exposed. At first only one or a few symptoms may occur. With more exposure, symptoms often get worse and more symptoms develop.

Look for these warnings:

RESPIRATORY
Irritation, inflammation, burning, congested and pain involving the ears, nose, sinuses, throat, voice box, bronchi/chest and lungs.

MIGRAINES
Migraines are commonly caused or made worse by chemicals in the air, food and / or by skin contact.

BRAIN SYMPTOMS
Scientists now know there is no barrier between the nose and the brain. The brain extends into the nose with small nerve endings in the lining of the nose. This is called a cranial nerve for smell (olfactory nerve). Chemicals breathed in the air or put or sprayed into the nose can pass through the nose lining (mucosa) and enter the brain. This can cause warning symptoms with chemical exposure:
    Headache
    Dizziness, lightheaded feeling
    Problems with attention span, concentration/difficulty with short term memory
    Impaired balance, coordination
    "Pins and needles" feeling or numbness
If you notice repeated, significant or worsening of any of the above symptoms, seriously consider a chemical cause. Check your environment for chemicals to which you might be exposed.

EYES
Burning, irritated eyes are typical of chemical exposure.

SKIN
Rashes with burning suggest chemical exposure. Hives may indicate chemical exposure or regular allergy. Redness with itching on back or upper center chest where you sweat may be your body's attempt to clear out chemicals. Watch what you are exposed to when rashes/skin effects are worse.

CHRONIC FATIGUE, ACHING
These are often later warning signs that chemical inflammation is becoming chronic. Usually when chemical exposure is a factor, you will also have some of the symptoms above. Carefully think about your exposures. The longer/more severely you have been affected, the longer it may take you to notice some improvement with reduced exposure.

However, even a weekend or week with lots of fresh air (avoid pesticides, etc. there) may give you a hint if some of your symptoms get better even temporarily. If they again get worse returning to your former situation, a chemical link is more likely. More severely affected people need more time away from exposure to notice improved symptoms.

GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS
"Acid reflux-like" symptoms are common in chemical injury. This can include irritation/burning feeling in the stomach or esophagus area (mid upper abdomen, lower middle chest), gas/bloating. If these symptoms are or become frequent or serious, consider a chemical cause.

When these symptoms are caused by chemical exposure, your stomach/esophagus is more inflamed and NOT because of increased acid. Repeatedly using medicine to block your stomach acid can impair your digestion, deplete your body of essential nutrients and make your body more susceptible to intestinal infections. It can also delay your detecting more silent chemical injury if chemical inflammation is causing these symptoms.

The body often provides early warnings of chemical damage. Being alert to these warnings helps prevent more serious or permanent chemical damage. Take steps to promptly reduce your exposure. This can prevent chemical injury.

by Dr.Grace Ziem

Go To Dr. Grace Ziem's Web Site
Go To Dr. Grace Ziem's Biography
Go To Dr. Grace Ziem's article Recognize Early Warnings!

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