Page 40 - June 2022 Issue.indd

Tips, Classes and
H ealth C orner Programs to help

you live healthier!

Symptoms Although children are primarily at
Initially, lead poisoning can be hard risk, lead poisoning is also dangerous
to detect — even people who seem for adults. Signs and symptoms in
healthy can have high blood levels of adults might include:
Lead Poisoning lead. Signs and symptoms usually don’t • High blood pressure
appear until dangerous amounts have
Submitted by Tara Brooks, • Joint and muscle pain
accumulated.
Caroline County Health Department • Difficulties with memory or

Signs and symptoms of lead poisoning
Lead poisoning occurs when lead concentration
in children include:
builds up in the body, oft en over • Headache
months or years. Even small amounts • Developmental delay
• Abdominal pain
of lead can cause serious health • Learning diffi culties
problems. Children younger than • Mood disorders
• Irritability
six are especially vulnerable to lead • Reduced sperm count and
poisoning, which can severely aff ect • Loss of appetite abnormal sperm
mental and physical development. At • Weight loss
very high levels, lead poisoning can be • Sluggishness and fatigue • Miscarriage, stillbirth or
fatal. premature birth in pregnant
• Abdominal pain women
Lead-based paint and lead- Provided By: www.mayoclinic.org
contaminated dust in older buildings • Vomiting
are common sources of lead poisoning • Constipation
in children. Other sources include Raising the Next Generation
• Hearing loss
contaminated air, water and soil. Tobacco-Free
Adults who work with batteries, do • Seizures
home renovations or work in auto • Eating things, such as paint By Heather Grove, BSN, RN
repair shops also might be exposed to chips, that aren’t food (pica)
lead. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see the
Babies exposed to lead before birth next generation completely tobacco-

There is treatment for lead poisoning, might: free?
but taking some simple precautions
can help protect you and your family • Be born prematurely No more smokey rooms or cars, no
from lead exposure before harm is • Have lower birth weight more yellow nicotine stains, freedom
done. from addiction to nicotine and longer,
• Have slowed growth
healthier lives.
Tobacco companies have targeted
minorities and manipulated us for far
DOT/CDL too long. Countless lives have been
lost from tobacco products. Th ankfully
many young people have been
MEDICAL EXAMS
educated on the dangers of tobacco.
Complying with New Social norms are changing and they
Government Requirements are not interested in smoking cigarettes

anymore. However, a shift has taken
place. Young people, even those that
FMCSA Certified Physician
would have never touched a traditional
Prompt C.E. Jensen, MD
Service Competitive cigarette, are interested in electronic
Price 410-924-8560 cigarettes and vaping products.
Evenings and Saturdays by appointment
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