Pernicious Anemia I Uploaded Instructions. The Essay

Pernicious Anemia I uploaded instructions. The essay written ASA format, scholarly references pages.

Pernicious anemia is a medical condition where the body is unable to manufacture the required red blood cells due to the lack of enough vitamin B12. According to Ban-Hock and Alderuccio (2004)

vitamin B12 is used in the body for making healthy red blood cells and to ensure the nervous system is functioning properly. Persons suffering from pernicious anemia are unable to absorb the required vitamin B12 from the food they consume. The lack of intrinsic factor protein is the main cause of absorption failure. If a person's body does not have enough vitamin B12, their red blood cells will not divide normally, and they become too large. This will result in the red blood cells not been released from the bone marrow where they are made. The person's body will eventually not have enough red blood cells for circulating oxygen within the body, which could lead to the damage of the brain, heart, and other body organs.

Risk factors

A risk factor is defined as something that increases the chance of someone getting a condition or a disease. The risk factors associated with pernicious anemia are and autoimmune disorders and conditions like Addison's disease, type 1 diabetes, menstrual disorders, testicular dysfunction, hyperthyroidism. Other risk factors of pernicious anemia are family history, European or Scandinavian descent, and age. Strict vegetarians especially those who do not eat any dairy or animal products are also at risk of contracting pernicious anemia. . The modifiable risks of pernicious anemia are strict vegetarians, age, and autoimmune disorders. Family history and ancestral background are non-modifiable risks.

An autoimmune disorder is a disorder that makes the body's immune system to mistakenly destroy and attack healthy body tissues. This condition would cause the body's immune system to destroy the tissues used for absorption of vitamin B12, and this would result in insufficient absorption of the vitamin in the body. Type A Gastritis is mainly associated with pernicious anemia Sun, Wang, Lin, Chia, & Chiang, 2013.

This is an autoimmune disorder that is localized in the stomach body. Intrinsic factor antibodies cause oxyntic gastric mucosa to be destroyed, which results in the loss of intrinsic factor synthesis. This causes the ileum to no longer be able to absorb vitamin B12 as there is no intrinsic factor.

People who have a history of pernicious anemia in their family are also likely to suffer from this disease. This is because they may have the same genes or genetic disorder. Family history is a key risk factor as there disorder is genetic and the individual is born with the disorder. Research has indicated that pernicious anemia mostly affects individuals who have ancestors in North European or Scandinavian countries. Pernicious anemia does attack other racial groups, but it is most prevalent in the above racial group. Ancestral background does play a role in contributing to the risk factors of getting pernicious anemia. Age is another risk factor for this disease. Normally the disease does not appear before a person reaches 30 years, but there have been instances where a child has been diagnosed with the disease. As one gets older their body needs more nutrients, but as their bodily functions reduce there is a likelihood of them not absorbing enough vitamin B12, which can result in the disease.

Strict vegetarians are also prone to pernicious anemia. This is because the primary sources of vitamin B12 are dairy products and meat. A strict vegetarian would therefore, be required to take vitamin B12 supplements to ensure that they have enough vitamin B12 in their body.

Prevention of pernicious anemia

Pernicious anemia that is caused by the lack of intrinsic factor cannot be prevented, but the lack of enough vitamin B12 in the diet can be prevented. The main method of preventing pernicious anemia is regular intake of foods with high vitamin B12 sources like liver, fish, poultry, beef meat, eggs, breakfast cereals, and soy-based meals Madara & Pomarico-Denino, 2007.

Supplements can be used to increase levels of vitamin B12 in the body. This is especially advisable for older people and strict vegetarians. Pernicious anemia can also be prevented by regularly eating a well-balanced diet. This diet will provide other necessary components that are used for the development of blood cells.

It has also been discovered that treatment of certain chronic disease could result in pernicious anemia. In such instances, the best method of preventing the disease would be changing the drugs given. Children born to strict vegetarian mothers should be given regular vitamin B12 supplements. These supplements will provide the infant with the enough vitamin B12 as they might not get it from their mother. The supplements should be given from birth.