article_snippet.sent: In fact, tests suggested she had high levels of mercury.
article_snippet.sent: Breathing in extremely high concentrations of mercury can trigger bronchitis and pneumonia and affect the central nervous system, causing muscle tremors.
article_snippet.sent: But mercury poisoning is very rare, suggests Dr Prem Mahendra, a consultant haematologist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. '
article_snippet.sent: In 27 years as a haematologist I have never been asked to test for mercury,' Dr Prem Mahendra, a consultant haematologist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham says.
article_snippet.sent: Blood tests showed pneumonia had high mercury levels.
article_snippet.sent: With nothing else to account for high mercury levels, pneumonia fillings were pinpointed as the cause .
article_snippet.sent: It is true that mercury can sometimes cause sensitivity and soreness in teeth - 5 per cent of the population react to contact with amalgams in this way - but this poses no risk to health, adds Professor Walmsley.
article_snippet.sent: This follows research linking mercury to certain diseases.
article_snippet.sent: A 2012 review of 106 studies published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease suggested mercury from amalgams could be a contributing factor to the condition.
article_snippet.sent: I think that the mercury was affecting my immune and digestive system.'
article_snippet.sent: She did this for two years, and tried various diets to tackle the 'inflammation' linked to the mercury that was making She ill. '
article_snippet.sent: However, Anton Emmanuel, consultant gastroenterologist at University College Hospital, London, is not convinced mercury could affect digestion in this way. '
article_snippet.sent: You would have to be exposed to massive overdoses of mercury for the gut to be affected,' Anton Emmanuel, consultant gastroenterologist at University College Hospital, London says. '
article_snippet.sent: In fact, I see patients whose gut symptoms, ironically, seem to be caused by the stress and anxiety of thinking that it is their mercury fillings which are causing stomach problems, when there is no physical sign of any gut disorders.'
article_snippet.sent: Private clinics offer mercury testing.
highlights_snippet.sent: Tests suggested she had high levels of mercury due to amalgam fillings .