Can Jaundice Be Caused By Copper Toxicity?

Have you ever seen the eyes of someone turn a yellow color and wonder what this is? Jaundice is a health problem that makes the skin look yellow. The whites of the eyes and sometimes the inside of the mouth will turn yellow, too. This happens when there is too much bilirubin in the body. Bilirubin is a yellow-orange thing the body makes when red blood cells break down.

The liver helps to use bilirubin in the right way. It changes it so the body can get rid of it in bile. Bile goes to the stomach, then leaves the body. Sometimes, the body makes too much bilirubin. The liver may not work well or can get hurt. There could even be something blocking the bile from getting out. If this happens, bilirubin grows in the blood and skin. That is why jaundice happens.

What Are the Different Types and Causes of Jaundice?

There are three main kinds of yellow skin problems, based on where in the body the trouble starts. These are called pre-hepatic, hepatic, and post-hepatic types.

Pre-hepatic happens when the body breaks down too many red blood cells. Things like blood problems or sickness caused by bugs, including one called malaria, can lead to this.

Hepatic type begins with liver troubles. The liver may not be working well because of things like swelling in the liver, scars, or growths in the liver. When this happens, the liver cannot take care of a yellow stuff called bilirubin the right way.

Post-hepatic, or blocked-bile kind, starts when something keeps the bile from moving as it should. The cause can be from kid stones, growths, or bulging in the bile piper.

Some top signs you may see of these problems are yellow skin or yellow eyes. A person may spot dark pee or light poop, feel itchy, feel weak, or feel pain in the belly. These signs can change, based on what is making the problem.

Why Is Jaundice Common in Newborns?

In newborns, jaundice happens a lot and often starts in the first few days after they are born. It comes up because the baby’s liver is still growing and is sometimes not good at breaking down bilirubin yet. Most cases in newborns are harmless and usually go away without help. But there are times when babies need help, like light therapy, so they do not get sick from it. In adults, jaundice can show that there is another health problem that might be very bad. A healthcare provider should find out what is wrong in adults and give the right treatment.

What Causes Jaundice in Adults?

Jaundice in grown-ups takes place when there is too much bilirubin in the blood. A rise in bilirubin can come from different health problems. These issues are often put into groups based on where they start in the body. The problem might start before bilirubin gets to the liver. It might happen when it is in the liver. Or, it can come after bilirubin leaves the liver, like when something gets in the way and blocks the flow.

What Are Pre-Hepatic Causes of Jaundice?

These things make the body break down a lot of red blood cells. This makes there be more bilirubin in the blood than your liver can take care of.

• Hemolytic anemia

• Sickle cell disease

• Malaria

• Thalassemia

• Autoimmune disorders
  In these problems, the level of bilirubin in the blood can rise quickly. The liver cannot remove it from the body as fast as it should.

What Are Hepatic Causes of Jaundice?

These go right to the liver and do harm. This makes it hard for the liver to deal with bilirubin.

• Hepatitis (which can be viral, linked to heavy drinking, or caused by the body’s own system attacking the liver)

• Cirrhosis (this can happen if someone keeps drinking for a long time, or from having hepatitis)

• Fatty liver disease

• Liver cancer or cancer that has spread to the liver

• Genetic problems (like Gilbert’s syndrome or Crigler-Najjar syndrome)
  These problems make it hard for the liver cells to work the way they are supposed to, so they can’t change or get rid of bilirubin as they need to.

What Are Post-Hepatic Causes of Jaundice?

These problems start when something blocks the bile ducts. This keeps bilirubin from getting out into the gut.

• Gallstones

• Pancreatic cancer

• Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma)

• Strictures, and this means that the bile ducts get narrow

• Parasites, but this does not happen often and is found in some parts of the world

What Additional Risk Factors Contribute to Jaundice?

• Heavy drinking

• Coming into contact with hepatitis viruses

• Use of some medicines or harmful things

• Liver disease in the family

Can Mineral Imbalance Like Copper Toxicity Cause Jaundice?

Copper toxicity can make the liver sick. The liver helps remove a yellow stuff called bilirubin from the body. If there is too much copper, it hurts liver cells. This harm can cause stress, swelling, and might even kill these cells as time goes on. When the liver is hurt, it has a hard time working with bilirubin. Bilirubin is what is left after red blood cells break down. If the liver cannot manage bilirubin, it builds up in the blood. This buildup makes the skin and the eyes turn yellow.

What Is Wilson’s Disease and How Is It Related?

One of the main reasons people get copper poisoning is Wilson’s disease. This is a rare illness that is passed down in families. It keeps the body from getting rid of extra copper. In Wilson’s disease, copper starts to build up in the body. You mostly find this copper in the liver, brain, and eyes. When copper builds up, it can hurt the liver cells. Because of this, the liver has trouble cleaning out and removing bilirubin. This can cause the skin and eyes to turn yellow, which is called jaundice in the liver.

Over time, the liver can get scars. This is called cirrhosis. These scars make it even harder for bile to flow. This can cause a type of jaundice called obstructive jaundice. In this type, some types of bilirubin get into the blood. It happens because the paths that carry bile are blocked or not working well.

In some cases, when copper poisoning happens, such as with untreated Wilson's disease, people can feel very sick. A person can get liver failure fast. The skin and eyes can turn yellow in a short time. People may feel confused, have their belly get more swollen, and find it hard to stop bleeding. Most of the time, the way to help is by giving drugs that help the body get rid of extra copper. Doctors may use certain drugs called chelating agents, such as penicillamine, or they may use zinc. Zinc can help stop copper from building up in the body.

However, that is the more traditional model. At Upgraded Formulas, you get a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis. This helps us look at all the mineral levels in your body. We use this to give you a plan that can help balance your body’s chemistry. When your minerals are balanced, every body system can work better. Are you interested? You can help with your jaundice today by doing an HTMA with us!