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Older Adults and Lead Poisoning: Know the Symptoms

Elder Care in Pacific Beach CA

Elder Care in Pacific Beach CA

Elder Care in Pacific Beach CALead poisoning is not only something children should be cautious of, but is also a condition that elderly adults can get. Since most people to not consider this condition as one that older adults may get, the symptoms often go unnoticed. However, by not getting properly diagnosed, there could be fatal consequences to the health of your loved one.

If your elderly parent lives alone, think about having a senior care provider check in on them throughout the day. Not only can this professional caregiver keep your loved one company, but they can also help with the day-to-day tasks the elder can’t do alone.

Causes

There are a wide range of reasons older adults may develop this dangerous illness. Some of these causes include:

  • Lead paint: Before, 1978, this type of paint was used for everything, from playground equipment to homes. It has since been banned in the United States since paint chips were causing children to develop lead poisoning.
  • Plumbing fixtures: If your loved one’s home contains brass, copper, or lead pipes, they could be at risk for this type of poisoning. The reason being that lead particles can make their way into tap water.
  • Dust: Did you know that lead can even be found in dust? Lead paint chips could be found in the household dust, making it dangerous for seniors to be around.
  • Kohl: This mineral is found in a number of cosmetic products, but mostly eyeliner.
  • Soil: Soil found in areas near highways, some urban settings, and near the walls of older homes could contain lead particles.

Symptoms

Some common symptoms of lead poisoning are:

  • High blood pressure
  • Constipation
  • Pain in the abdomen
  • Muscle pain
  • Joint pain
  • Decline in the use of cognitive skills
  • Headache
  • Mood disorders
  • Numbness, pain, or tingling of extremities

Treatment

If lead poisoning is diagnosed in your aging parent, the first thing that will have to be done is to remove the source of the lead contamination. This includes any items that contain lead-based paint or soil with lead particles. Once the source has been removed, your elderly loved one has two possible treatment options, including:

  • EDTA therapy: If the elder’s lead level is over 45 mcg/dL of blood, the doctor may prescribe a certain drug. This drug is most commonly known as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Depending on the severity of the condition, more than one treatment may be necessary.
  • Chelation therapy: In this therapy, a medication is taken that binds with the lead in order for the adult to excrete it in their urine.

Your loved one’s doctor will be able to give you more information on treatment options for your loved one’s lead poisoning.

La Jolla Nurses Homecare can help your aging parents remain in their own homes, call 858-454-9339. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable senior care in La Costa, CA, and the surrounding communities."}” data-sheets-userformat=”{"2":767,"3":{"1":0},"4":{"1":2,"2":10667209},"5":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":{"1":2,"2":0}},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"6":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":{"1":2,"2":0}},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"7":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":{"1":2,"2":0}},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"8":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":{"1":2,"2":0}},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"9":2,"10":2,"12":0}”>For more information about how the caregivers at La Jolla Nurses Homecare can help your aging parents remain in their own homes, call 858-454-9339. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable elder care in Pacific Beach, CA, and the surrounding communities.

Brittnei Salerno

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