FREE ESSAY ON PERNICIOUS ANEMIA

PERNICIOUS ANEMIA

Pernicious Anemia
Pernicious anemia is a form of anemia caused by the lack of intrinsic factor , a
substance needed in order to absorb the vitamin B12 from the intestines. Without this
intrinsic factor there is a vitamin B12 deficiency. This deficiency then affects the bone
marrows ability to create red blood cells. The main cause of this disorder is best linked
to heredity. It mostly occurs in men over 50 from a Northern European decent. 
The main symptoms are weakness in arms and legs, sore tongue, nausea, apetite loss,
bleeding gums, clumsiness, pale lips, yellow eyes and skin, shortness of breath,
depression, confusion and dementia, headaches, and poor memory. Some of the things that
might cause pernicious anemia are eating a vegetarian diet, having stomach surgery (
removing a part of the stomach that produces intrinsic factor). Another cause could come
from having diabetes mellitus or thyroid disease. The main treatment for this disease is
the replacement of vitamin B12 into the body. Since people with pernicious anemia cannot
absorb B12 taken by mouth, they take a B12 injection into their blood about once a month
for the rest of their lives. Without this injection or treatment the patients prognosis
is very severe. The ending result would be possible congestive heart failure or possible
neurological effects( brain damage).