What we eat, drink and breathe in bears upon our body in some manner. Certain chemicals might have adverse effects on the body. Specifically, we’re going to discuss those chemicals that bear upon the nervous system.

The Nervous System

The nervous system is composed of the brain and all of the nerves and nerve cells in the body. The brain is linked to the nerves thru the spinal cord. The nerves that bear upon muscles, organs, bone and additional areas of the body arise from the spinal cord.

When you bang your toe on a step, the sensory nerves in the toe send a message thru the nerve network to the brain. The brain construes the impulses and sends a message back to the toe. You in return feel pain and utter “ow!” All of this occurs in a matter of microseconds.

In order for the brain to work and interpret the messages, it needs to be fed. The brain has a 20 percent increase in oxygen consumption over the rest of the body. It also requires glucose for energy. When anything disrupts the brain and its normal functioning, that likewise bears upon how the body responds to impulses.

The Effects of Neurotoxins

Neurotoxins are those substances that adversely bear upon the brain, nervous system and neurons (the nerve cells). These substances might come from different sources. Most often we think about chemical sources such as heavy metals, pesticides, cleaning products, chemical waste products and environmental pollution. What you might not consider is that neurotoxins may come from other sources that are intended to help us: chemotherapy, drug therapies, radiation treatment, foods and cosmetics.

The effects of neurotoxins hinge upon the dosage and the physical attributes of the individual. If you’re solely exposed once a week, it will require longer for the effects to take hold but they eventually will start to turn up when the levels of toxin in your body reach a critical level.

Once nerve cells give way, this interrupts the nerve impulse pathways in the body. Those affected might suffer from numbness in the limbs, alterations in personality traits like developing obsessive/compulsive disorders, headaches, sexual dysfunction, memory loss, vision troubles, delusions and mental delays.

Once you notice these changes in your body, consult a physician. They might perform tests to determine what damage has been caused to your nervous system. In a lot of cases, patients might recover once the offending neurotoxin is keyed and eradicated. It may be something that you have ran across in your job, something in your house or even something you’re consuming.

In some cases, full recovery isn’t achievable. Some toxins that bear upon the nervous system result in permanent changes. Removing the toxin prevents additional damage but that’s all that can be done.

Know your body. Follow up any neurological changes with a physician as soon as possible. Scan labels on foods and products carefully to spot any possible risks that might be eliminated right now.