Digitalis toxicity is caused by chemicals in foxglove plants, which can be used to treat heart conditions but can also be dangerous. Symptoms include confusion, heart palpitations, and visual changes. Treatment is difficult and may involve stomach pumping or medication.
Digitalis toxicity is a trait of the digital plant; the plant contains many chemicals that can be harmful to humans and other organisms. The term digitalis toxicity is also used to describe the condition of being under the harmful effects of digitalis. Digitalis is a genus of plants commonly called foxgloves due to the cylindrical shape of their petals. Some of the chemicals in foxglove plants can be used to treat various heart conditions, especially those related to irregular heartbeats. Unfortunately, many of the chemicals in foxglove plants can also be very dangerous, earning them names like dead man’s bells and witches’ gloves.
The effects of foxglove toxicity can result from consuming a foxglove plant or from complications with plant-derived heart medications. Digitalis resembles another type of plant called comfrey, which is often used in tea; confusing the two can be and has been fatal. Many of the same chemicals used in medications can actually cause problems as well; digitalis toxicity often causes heart block or a highly irregular heart rate. Every part of the plant is toxic and can cause death; this includes the roots and seeds, which some believe do not include toxic chemicals.
There are many symptoms that can indicate a case of digitalis toxicity. Those suffering from digitalis toxicity tend to experience confusion and disorientation accompanied by nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Heart palpitations and a highly irregular heart rate are also common, as the chemicals in digitalis tend to strongly affect the heart. The affected individual may also notice various visual changes, such as the presence of yellow or green halos, changes in perceived colors, or the perception of non-existent bright spots or blind spots. Over time, the individual may also notice a distinct lack of appetite.
Treatment of digitalis toxicity can be difficult because it places the affected individual in a very fragile state given the precarious nature of their heart condition. In general, it is unwise to induce vomiting in someone with digitalis toxicity because the vomiting can be felt on hearts that are experiencing slow rhythms or other harmful conditions. In emergencies, assisted breathing is often needed to keep the afflicted individual alive long enough to reach treatment. Treatment may involve tubes to remove stomach contents or, in cases where the toxicity has been occurring over a long period of time, medications to reverse the effects.
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