AMALGAM PROBLEMS.

Amalgam is commonly referred to liquid or solid alloy of mercury with metals. The amalgams used in dentistry are composed of mercury and a metal mixture (silver, tin, copper and possibly trace amounts of zinc) in a ratio of 1:1 together. Apart from the cheaper amalgam filling material is superior to the inlays of gold alloys or ceramics because of better marginal fit and its good mechanical properties. Unlike before, we now know that amalgam fillings release mercury to the hardening and contribute to human exposure. Mercury is next e.g. in thermometers, skin disinfectants and paper, but also in the food chain (pollution). It is partially absorbed into the body, deposited, and only very slowly excreted.

The release of mercury from amalgam is increased.
* Mechanically by chewing, teeth grinding or brushing teeth.
* Chemically by acidic or hot foods, but also by poor oral hygiene (pH, plaque colonization).
* Metal electrochemically more noble by contact.

The release is also dependent on the nature and processing of the material (e.g. fillings give off less polished). Particularly large amounts are released during laying and polishing of new fillings and drilling out old fillings.

How does the mercury get into the body?
* Via the lungs (inhalation of the fumes).
* Via the gastrointestinal tract (swallowed).
* On the root (especially in the absence of lining), gums and jaw bones.
* Through the nasal cavity.
From the mouth or nose area, the mercury by diffusion directly into the brain. Another way is through the bloodstream, where the mercury is either deposited in various organs or the nerve pathways to the brain transported.

What health effects may occur?
There are no typical symptoms of mercury poisoning. A variety of very different clinical pictures are taken in the literature in connection with amalgam, such as
* Susceptibility to infection.
* Diarrhea, nausea.
* Depression, anxiety.
* Irritability, sleep disturbances.
* Headache and muscle pain.
* Skin reactions.
* Hearing and vision problems.
* Anemia (anemia).
* And many other symptoms.
The influence of mercury on the most appeal, however, images can ultimately be proved neither unequivocal nor refuted. A real "mercury allergy is rare (less than 0.2%).

What you can do:
* Has found the doctor based on the saliva test or other methods that you might be at a heavy metal pollution may be possible that amalgam fillings your teeth may be to blame.
* Before you decide on a comprehensive dental treatment, you should try to rule out other possible causes, for the replacement of amalgam fillings is very time consuming and is funded by health insurance very often.
* The mercury that remains available even after the removal of the amalgam still in the body is excreted slowly. For stubborn cases, there are drugs ("chelating agent"), which accelerate the excretion. TS / jk / Miscellaneous / amalgam problems - 22.02.2000-jk

When to go to the doctor:
Through increased mercury exposure, you should consider when you are more or less frequently, more or less show disease symptoms, without adequate or that could profound diagnosis. Find a doctor you trust and talk to him about your concerns you may have due to amalgam fillings.

What your doctor can do:
* If you suspect mercury levels, various tests are carried out. However, they are often inaccurate (saliva test) and expensive. The cost of these tests with the patient.
* If you suspect mercury allergy can be performed by the dermatologist an allergy test.

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ECZEMA - Itch

Eczema is a collective term for inflammatory lesions. This could result in an acute state of swelling, redness, blisters or nodules, flakes and oozing. May occur later deposits. Often, the dermatitis associated with severe itching. If a chronic eczema, thickens the cornea and the skin becomes dry and cracked. We distinguish between external (exogenous) eczema, which is caused by external influences, and inward (endogenous) eczema is organic. The cause of the endogenous eczema, atopic dermatitis, is often hard to find out.

Eczema usually occurs at the point where the contact took place with the causing substance. You can be an immunological (skin allergy) or directly caused by a skin-irritating substance. Allergic reactions can only occur after years of constant contact with the substance, but then connect with each other to immediately contact again. Non-allergic eczema by weak irritants often occur only after prolonged exposure to the harmful substance (such as water, cleaning agents) on. If the substance is severely irritating (eg acids or alkalis), connect the complaints immediately. Both allergic and non allergic eczema may be aggravated in part by solar radiation (eg cosmetics allergy is worse in the sun).

Common causes

Eczema-causing substances:
* Drugs.
* Cosmetics.
* Chemicals (for example, cleaning agents).
* Textiles.
* Metals (eg nickel in costume jewelry or belt buckles).
* Food (for example, cow's milk in infancy).
* Plants.

What can you do

* Initiating find substance as possible to avoid or at least prevent direct skin contact.

* Do not use ordinary soap, as it attacks the protective layer of the skin, thus drying out the skin. Instead of using soap rather wash creams, washing gels or washing pieces (Syndet).

* Instead of bubble baths or high-foaming shower gels use lotion or oil baths. These dry out the skin does not, but fat and maintain it during the cleaning process.

* After washing the skin with a moisturizing lotion cream.

* Use of allergy-tested skin care products that are suitable for dry, sensitive skin (even the sun).

* Patients with sonnenempfindlichem eczema should avoid the sun.

* Excessive sweating of the sites prevent eczema. The salty sweat irritates the skin.

* Applying a salve for eczema (eg bufexamac or hydrocortisone).

* Against strong itching with antihistamine tablets to help active ingredient (= pruritic, anti-allergic). This drug is also available as ointments, creams or gels for external use for weaker itching.

When you need a doctor

* For severe symptoms or if the discomfort continues.

What your doctor can do

* Finding out the cause of eczema (eg, allergy test).

* Treatment of eczema symptoms with more effective treatments for itching or inflammation.

Prevention

* When working with skin irritants gloves (preferably made of PVC, including cotton gloves).

* New clothes before you wear wash.

* The sun no perfumes and cosmetics (except sunscreen) apply.

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FOOD ALLERGY

Approximately 1-2 percent of the population suffers from a true food allergy, that is, their immune system is allergic to certain foods. An allergy is a faulty immune system response to normally harmless, foreign substances. A response is seen earlier than the second contact with the triggering substance (allergen). The first edition, the so-called sensitization, i.e., the immune system forms antibodies against the seemingly anti-matter, to defend them. If the body in contact with the allergen again, large quantities of these antibodies can be replicated. They fight the fabric and it comes to the allergic reaction. Here are several highly effective defense cells of biochemical substances such as Histamine release, which are then responsible for the classic symptoms.

Common triggers of food allergy

* Nuts
* Fish
* Wheat
* Shellfish
* Various fruit and vegetables
* Eggs

For most adults, it is, however, pollen-associated food allergies hay fever (allergy cross). The structure of allergenic molecules in pollen are similar to some structures in some foods. The immune system is confused, so to speak, the molecule and reacts well with various dishes with an allergy. The symptoms of allergic skin rashes ranging from proposals with itching and hives on stomach and intestinal disorders to respiratory distress, or at worst, a circuit failure.

The most common cross allergies:

Birch, alder, hazel - nuts, apples and other stone and pome fruit, potato

Grasses - tomato, peanut, legumes,

Mugwort - celery, spices, carrots

The food allergy is to be distinguished from food intolerance. Here is no immune reaction. It is triggered by strong histamine-containing foods. In other forms there is a defect in enzymes that will degrade in the body certain substances (eg lactose intolerance). In addition, some dyes or preservatives in the body directly cause histamine release. The symptoms often resemble those of true food allergy.

How your doctor makes the diagnosis.

to identify the triggering allergen, can be very difficult, especially by today's variety of processed foods. The simplest test is the so-called skin prick test. Various test solutions are inserted into the skin. Is there an allergy, is at this point after about 20 minutes, a wheal. For food, it may be necessary to use not only the test solution, but the food itself be placed on the skin or a little of him herauszuritzen and then prick the skin to obtain a reliable result. Although so the allergen can not be found, there is the possibility of a provocation test. This means that is eaten the suspect food under medical supervision in low doses in order to provoke an allergic reaction. Can also be a useful blood test in which the antibodies can be detected against a suspected allergen.

What your doctor can do:

If the allergic reaction is not too strong, rich usually drugs that block the histamine in the body (antihistamines) for therapy. In severe cases, cortisone is used to suppress the immune response. For patients who have already shown a massive allergic reaction, it is recommended that such an emergency kit to have around, consisting of an antihistamine, cortisone and adrenaline preparation, if there is a reaction cycle.

What can you do:

The best treatment is of course to avoid the trigger foods. However, some allergens change depending on the preparation, so for example, many patients can not tolerate an apple allergy to raw apple, but have with the apple in the form of boiled or baked no problems. Difficulties can also make finished products, on which the ingredients are not declared sufficient. It is advisable to do so.

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