Many people are aware of the dangers of metal toxicity and have heard about the process of removing metals from the body.

Another problem caused by metals that most people don’t know about: A sensitivity or allergy to metals that can zap your energy and have other adverse effects on your health. Here’s what you need to know…

Throughout the day, we are exposed to a wide array of metals, including nickel, which is found in some jewelry, medical prostheses and stainless steel cookware… mercury, found in seafood, some vaccines and dental fillings… cobalt, found in air and water… and aluminum, found in antiperspirants and some food cans.

What many physicians fail to realize:The presence of these metals in people who are sensitive can result in an immune response and inflammation throughout the body—in other words, an allergic reaction. Symptoms of a metal allergy: Some allergies, such as those to nickel, cause an itchy red rash (known as allergic dermatitis) upon contact with jewelry made with the metal. Other potential symptoms of a metal sensitivity include headache, poor memory, muscle spasms or pain, joint pain, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, irritability and depression. A metal allergy also may contribute to asthma, multiple autoimmune diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis), irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome.

My advice: Consider testing for a metal allergy if you have any of the symptoms or conditions above and are looking for the root cause. Allergic dermatitis can be determined with a skin test, but I use a specific blood test to determine an internal allergy or sensitivity to metal—the memory lymphocyte immunostimulation assay (MELISA). It does not measure the amount of a metal in your blood, but whether your immune system is reacting to it. Even a small amount of metal can trigger an allergic reaction. If the test comes back positive for a sensitivity to one or more metals, treatment may include detoxification or removal of the metal, such as dental work. The test is sometimes covered by insurance.

If your physician does not use the MELISA test, he or she can find out more about it from Neuroscience, Inc., a company that provides testing (888-342-7272, www.NeuroScienceInc.com). You also can contact NeuroScience, Inc., to find a physician who administers the test in your area.