Nitrates can change normal hemoglobin (the chemical in the blood responsible for oxygen transport) to methemoglobin. Normally, methemoglobin levels are less than 2.5 percent of the body’s total hemoglobin.
Nitrates act to increase the methemoglobin, which reduces the ability of the blood to transport oxygen to cells.
This oxygen starvation can lead to a bluish tint of the lips, ears and nose in slight cases (known as blue-baby syndrome in infants). In severe cases, it can lead to respiratory and heart problems, and death.
Infants are especially susceptible to the effects of nitrates in drinking water because of their low stomach potential of hydrogen (pH), which increases the conversion of nitrate to nitrite. This is doubly important if the drinking water is used to prepare their formula. Pregnant women are also at more risk from nitrate exposure as their methemoglobin levels are typically as high as 10 percent during pregnancy. This normal increase in methemoglobin means that they can tolerate less of an exposure to nitrate than when not pregnant.
How are nitrate and nitrite poisoning treated?
Most healthy people over 6 months of age have internal mechanisms efficient at removing nitrate from the body. Therefore, treatment of exposure to nitrates and nitrites is typically not required for mild and moderate
cases. Hospitals treat extreme cases of exposure by applying 100 percent oxygen and methylene blue. The most important step in treating persons with nitrate poisoning is to determine and remove the source of the nitrate.
Published by connie dello buono
Connie Dello Buono is based in Sunnyvale California. Her first ebook is about women's health, Birthing Ways Healing Ways and her recent one is about cancer prevention, Curated Healing Ways. She had helped women have holistic childbirth as childbirth educator, founded Motherhealth, to serve seniors in the bay area with holistic caregivers and blogs at www.clubalthea.com with more than 10,000 health and finance related posts.
Connie trains her own caregivers, which are the favorites of most bay area seniors who are home bound and alone.
She is active in the rehab and nursing facilities, volunteering on music and movement for seniors.
She is a member of Lion's club and offered scholarships to students in the Philippines.
She is active at churchinsunnyvale.us and has Fridays Bible home study in Sunnyvale using the recovery version of the Bible , free at biblesforamerica.us
She loves dancing and teaching and her courses can be found at
https://teachclub.com/@thriveafter60
She is California Life Insurance licensed providing life insurance for older adults with health issues and helping women retire safely with income for life.
at menloassetca.com , she helps with 401k rollover.
3 Benefit plans
- Mortgage protection using term life insurance to pay for mortgage balance in event of death
- Final Expense plan using Single Issue Whole Life Insurance, with cash back, disability benefit and guaranteed in the presence of health issues
- Fixed Index Annuity retirement plan for safe, accessibility, less fees, less taxes, avoids probate as it goes directly to beneficiaries, rate of return with no downside market participation.
She brings compassion and understanding to the needs of her clients, bringing holistic approach in health and life insurance. Her goal is to free families from worries especially during covid with caregivers and life insurance in the presence of health issues, especially for women.
She can be reached at 408-854-1883 , motherhealth@gmail.com
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