Denture Creams such as Super Poligrip, Fixodent and Others, May Be Associated With Paralysis, Numbness, Tingling, Muscle Weakness And Other Neurological Issues.
Or You May Be Diagnosed With Zinc Poisoning, Reduced Copper Levels, Neuropathy, Anemia Or Bone Marrow Failure.
ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease," is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, the early symptoms of which are very similar to the neuropathy caused by denture cream zinc poisoning. Like ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease, denture cream zinc poisoning results in difficulties with gait and strength. However, while the progression of denture cream zinc poisoning can sometimes be halted if zinc and copper levels are brought to normal range, ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease victims will eventually become totally disabled, and the disease nearly always proves fatal.
ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.
Some symptoms of ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease are strikingly similar to those of denture cream zinc poisoning neuropathy. They include:
- muscle weakness in one or more of the following: hands, arms, legs or the muscles of speech, swallowing or breathing
- twitching (fasciculation) and cramping of muscles, especially those in the hands and feet
- impairment of the use of the arms and legs
- "thick speech" and difficulty in projecting the voice
- in more advanced stages, shortness of breath, difficulty in breathing and swallowing
Denture cream zinc poisoning and ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease also affect people in roughly the same age groups. Most people who develop ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease are between the ages of 40 and 70, with an average age of 55 at the time of diagnosis. Denture cream zinc poisoning has stricken people in the same demographic who have used denture adhesives over a long period of time.
Because many doctors are not aware that excessive use of zinc containing denture cream can lead to symptoms like muscle weakness in the arms and legs, and difficulties with gait or movement, they may initially suspect that the symptoms are being caused by a motor neuron disease, such as ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease. If you use denture creams, and are experiencing symptoms that might suggest early stages of ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease, ask to have your zinc and copper levels tested to rule out denture cream zinc poisoning neuropathy.