Final answer:
Zinc toxicity presents with symptoms such as dizziness, headache, nausea, and severe symptoms like seizures in cases of high exposure. Treatment includes supportive care and possibly chelation therapy. Overconsumption of zinc is dangerous, despite its benefits in reducing cold symptoms when taken appropriately.
Step-by-step explanation:
Zinc toxicity occurs when an individual consumes excessive amounts of zinc, which can lead to various adverse symptoms and requires appropriate treatment. The signs and symptoms of zinc toxicity include dizziness, headache, fever, chills, myalgia (muscle pain), nausea, vomiting, constipation, fatigue, and in more severe cases, jaundice, rash, mucosal hemorrhaging, seizures, shock, and potentially death.
Regarding treatment, supportive care is vital, including the administration of fluids and electrolytes to maintain hydration and correct electrolyte imbalances. In cases of significant zinc ingestion, chelation therapy, a medical procedure involving the administration of chelating agents to remove heavy metals from the body, may be necessary. The recommended treatment for heavy metal poisoning often parallels that of other toxic heavy metals, where the focus is on removing the heavy metal from the body and treating the symptoms caused by toxicity.
While zinc is effective for reducing the duration and severity of symptoms when administered within 24 hours of the onset of common cold symptoms, it is important to use it cautiously due to potential side effects like the long-term or permanent loss of smell associated with the use of zinc nasal gel, which is discouraged by the FDA.