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Why We Test Food
There are rare occasions in a lifetime when an unsuspecting event presents as an opportunity to educate and help others. Such an event occurred to us with the onset of bizarre physical symptoms in a previously healthy man.
A 60 year old friend of mine, who previously had been in perfect health, suddenly developed a series of unusual symptoms. The symptoms included the onset of high blood pressure, flushing of the face, lethargy and episodes of dizziness. While driving on the Los Angeles freeway he experienced an episode of dizziness so debilitating that he was forced to pull his car over onto the side of the road. After a few minutes he finally regained his composure. With growing concern of his health my friend came to the realization that not only were his symptoms making him feel horrible, but now they were also putting his life at risk.
This friend has been in perfect health throughout his life serving in the U.S. Coast Guard. After discharge he worked energetically in an outside job monitoring multiple commercial properties. He always managed his health well and continually educated himself on new research that came out about preventing illnesses and diseases.
ADVICE TO EAT HEART HEALTHY FISH
During the past decade abundant media attention has focused on cardiovascular disease with frequent references including the American Heart Association to eating fish as a risk reducer. My friend took this advice seriously and his eating habits switched primarily to a seafood diet emphasizing sushi. His dietary change took place over a three to four year period before the onset of his sudden symptoms.
DIAGNOSIS MADE
To complicate matters further, my friend began a search for a physician who could diagnose his symptoms. His abnormal symptoms did not point to a particular organ or common disease state. It took almost two months of actively searching with multiple physicians to make his diagnosis. A month long work-up at one of Los Angeles premier hospitals was undertaken and during this time period no specific diagnosis was made. It was after a month of intensive consultation that the medical staff could only refer him to a psychiatrist. He knew this was out of the question and he returned to his local physician and insisted that all available laboratory tests should be performed.
Thousands of dollars later the diagnosis of mercury toxicity made. Of the hundreds of medical laboratory tests that were performed only two were significantly abnormal. His blood level and hair analysis for mercury were greatly increased. His blood level of mercury was greater than 10 times that of a normal person. Soon after began diagnosed he started treatment and the accumulated mercury was gradually released from his body.
GROWING CONCERN
Throughout the year following his diagnosis I spoke to fellow physicians and attended scientific meetings to determine the scope and magnitude of mercury toxicity in the population at large. It became apparent that mercury toxicity is increasing and is associated with eating certain types of seafood. The physicians with whom I spoke were seeing more patients each year who were developing mercury accumulation in their offices.
Finally, twelve months following his diagnosis of mercury toxicity my friend's blood mercury level was reduced to an almost normal value.
-Dean L. Moyer, M.D.