Patient Education
Understanding
Chemical Sensitivies
Understanding Chemical Sensitivities…
The term “chemical sensitivity” is used to describe patients who exhibit certain symptoms when exposed to a variety of chemical substances in their environment, at dosages much lower than those determined to be harmful for the general population. These substances are thought to “trigger” various symptoms. A chemical sensitivity is not an allergy, so it does not involve the immune system. As a result, it often goes undiagnosed in a traditional allergy work-up. However, many patients who are chemically sensitive to various substances are also allergic to them.
Making
Sense of Chemical Sensitivity…
A chemical sensitivity may be “triggered” by exposure to a
large amount of a chemical agent or toxin for a brief time, or smaller
amounts over a longer time span. For example, someone cleaning up a very
moldy, water-damaged house without proper preventive clothing may experience
the same symptoms as another person living in a slightly damp apartment.
Individuals who experience adverse reactions to cleaning products, gasoline
or solvent fumes, paints, dyes, preservatives, latex, molds or chemicals
that are present in most carpets need to consider that they may be sensitive
to these products. Chemical sensitivities are affected by our genetic
makeup, general health, nutritional status, degree of exposure to the
irritant, and other individual factors.
The
Human Body & Chemicals…
In our bodies, the liver is responsible for breaking down the chemicals
that enter it through eating, breathing and living in our environment.
This process of breaking-down foreign chemicals into smaller components
that our body can deal with is known as “detoxification.”
The liver is one of our primary detoxifiers. Sometimes the chemical reactions
that occur in our liver proceed too slowly or too quickly. Vitamins, minerals,
trace elements and phytonutrients help these reactions proceed at the
proper rates and ensure that the necessary raw materials are present for
the needed reactions to take place. For example, vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
is necessary for the body to detoxify molds. Other trace minerals, such
as copper, zinc, manganese, chromium, iron, selenium, and magnesium are
essential co-factors for proper detoxification.
Getting
A Detoxification Profile…
At Alabama ENT we use a detoxification profile generated by The Great
Smokies Diagnostic Laboratories. This test examines the way your liver
detoxifies three common chemicals: acetaminophen (E.g. Tylenol; 650mg),
caffeine (200 mg), and aspirin (650mg). The detoxification of these three
common chemicals is representative of three very important sets of pathways
that your liver follows to detoxify many other chemical substances in
your body. By carefully analyzing your saliva, urine and blood after ingesting
these three substances, we can obtain an excellent “portrait”
of your liver’s ability to successfully carry-out the numerous daily
processes that are necessary to detoxify these three chemicals.
The
Process…
Patients are asked to take the three test substances, and then collect
saliva samples and a 10-hour urine collection, from which a test sample
is withdrawn. The following morning, you will return to our office for
a blood test. Results from the tests performed will give us insights into
which detoxification systems in the body are being challenged. The performance
of these systems can be improved with the addition of various supplements
and changes to the diet. Patients who have seriously impaired detoxification
(especially if the nervous system has been affected) may require at least
12 weeks of intensive dietary and nutritional therapy.
Seeking
Help…
If you think chemical sensitivity may be an issue for you, or would like
to pursue the benefits of detoxification tailored to your specific needs,
please contact us for a referral to a nutritional counselor.