Effects of Heavy Metal Toxicity on Anxiety Disorder

Abstract

Background: Several heavy metals are found naturally in the earth crust and are exploited for various industrial and economic purposes. Among these heavy metals, a few have impact on the human body. Though some of these metals only have effect on human physiology in high doses, others such as cadmium, mercury, lead, chromium, silver, and arsenic have delirious effects in the body even in minute quantities, causing acute and chronic toxicities in human. Anxiety is a common psychiatric disorder among men and women. Occasional anxiety may be a normal a part of life. However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks). This study examined a major environmental risk factor of anxiety disorder and how the adverse impact of anxiety disorder could be ameliorated using zinc and vitamin E. Methods: Animals used for the researched were grouped into four. Group 1 represents control group; Group 2 represents animals exposed a heavy metal (CaCl2); Group 3 represents animals exposed to CaCl2 and then treated with zinc; and Group 4 represents animals exposed to CaCl2 and then treated vit E. Results: Results showed that exposure to heavy metals (CaCl2 in particular) causes severe anxiety disorders. Results also showed zinc and vit E have the capacity to ameliorate anxiety disorder caused by heavy metals. Conclusion: The human body should be adequately protected as man interacts with heavy metals to prevent anxiety disorder, and where a patient becomes a victim of the disorder, zinc and vit E could be used to manage the case.