Copper is a crucial trace mineral required by the body for day to day bodily functions and maintains a proper health. Copper is required for the proper functioning of the body organs as well as the metabolic processes. It is also a crucial element required by the enzyme systems (enzymes are responsible for several metabolic activities crucial for sustaining life). For instance, enzymes are necessary for the cellular activity for signal transduction and cells regulation.
A research conducted on copper metabolism and human health suggested that an increased level of copper in the body might be responsible for health conditions such as:
• Hypotension
• Heart disease
• Postpartum depression
• Paranoid and hallucinatory schizophrenia
• Premenstrual tension
• Childhood hyperactivity and autism
The homeostatic mechanism of the human body is very complex and tries to maintain a continuous supply of copper while getting rid of the excess whenever possible. However, like any other nutrient or element, too much or too little of it may lead to either copper toxicity or copper deficiency in the body.
One of the most common sources of copper used to fulfill the daily requirement of copper in the human body is through the water we consume. Water pipes are made out of copper and in the areas where water is soft and acidic, it leads to the corrosion of copper from the pipes into the water. The same thing happens when copper utensils are used for cooking purpose. Cigarette smoking also results in the accumulation of excessive copper in the body. In women, oral contraceptives play a huge role in increasing the copper content in the body.
Up until now, the diagnosis and treatment of excess of heavy metals were hindered by the lack of reliable diagnostic techniques. Before the existence of the present diagnostic techniques, blood, urine and sweat were used for the diagnosis. But all of these proved to be unreliable for detecting long-term exposure to the metal as bodily fluids are almost always fluctuating. But after the development of modern laboratories and techniques, the concentration of trace minerals can now be diagnosed even with the smallest amount of samples that too with great precision and accuracy. If you are curious to know the common symptoms of copper excess, then they are mentioned below:
• Exhaustion and fatigue
• Hypothyroidism
• Feelings of doom
• Sensitivity
• Headaches and migraines
• Depressions
• Mood swings
• Dry skin
• Cold hands and feet
• Arthritis
• Paranoid
• Racing heart
• Hopelessness, despair and suicidal feelings
• Constipation
• Racing heart
• Arthritis
• Eating disorders
• Panic attacks and anxiety
• Problems with remembering or memorizing things
• Reaction to minerals and vitamins
• Yeast infections
• Aching muscles
• PMS
• Hypoglycemia
• Low blood pressure
• Obsessive thoughts