Pernicious anemia symptoms
What is pernicious anemia?
Decrease in red blood cells is called as pernicious anemia that may occur if there no proper absorption of vitamin B12 from the gastrointestinal tract. B12 is very important in the development of red blood cells. There are many types of anemia and pernicious anemia is one of them. Tiredness is one of the very common symptoms of pernicious anemia.
Causes of pernicious anemia:
There are many reasons to cause pernicious anemia but lack of vitamin B12 in the body is the main cause for pernicious anemia. The loss of parietal cells present in the lining of stomach is responsible for deficiency of vitamin B12. These cells play a role in making intrinsic factor, which is essential in the absorption of vitamin B12.
But in some cases these parental cells may get attacked by body's immune system. However, there is no any exact reason behind this happening or why the immune system produces antibodies that to dye parental cells. It results in the disappearance of the parietal cells when the immune system attack and stomach lining get shrinks.
Diet with enough vitamin B12, certain medicines and intestinal problems may also less common cause of pernicious anemia. There is possibility of having pernicious anemia if there is no enough intake of diet with vitamin B12. However, it may take many years to develop this condition as the body uses stored vitamin B 12.
Possibility of pernicious anemia is more in vegetarian people than in non-vegetarian. The food sources like poultry, meat, fish, eggs and diary products contains more vitamin B12 than other food products. Strict vegetarian mothers who feeds there babies may have pernicious anemia very soon because they don't have enough stored vitamin B12 in their body. Such mothers should have to take supplement of vitamin B12.
Some intestinal problems may also cause poor absorption of vitamin B12. It may because of,
- Overgrowth of parasite or infection due to parasites
- Genetic disorders and celiac disease that makes a person unable to tolerate gluten
- Lack of stomach acid to digest food may occur this condition
- An inflammatory disease and crohn’s disease
Effects on pernicious anemia on body:
- Digestive tract: There may be change in surface of the tongue and shrink because of lack of vitamin B12. These changes in stomach may leads into stomach cancer.
- Heart: Heart of those people who are having anemia may get harder to pump blood to get more or enough oxygen. Because of this stress on heart there may be heart murmurs, an enlarged heart, heart failure and irregular or fast heartbeats. However, there may be extra problems for the heart if there is lack of vitamin B12 or folic acid.
Treatment for this condition:
People with pernicious anemia are suggested for monthly vitamin B12 injections to correct vitamin B12 deficiency. It may be very helpful to treat and correct the level of vitamin B12 and neurological complications. The people who have severe deficiency are given the injections more frequently for the first time.
Some patients or people with gastric atrophy may also take vitamin B12 supplements by month. The dose of vitamin B12 is taken both oral as well as through nose also. But taking vitamin B12 by mouth is very effective.
