In Pernicious Anemia the blood cells are larger than normal,  fewer in number. Instead of 5,000,000 red  cells per cubic millimeter, the count may drop to 1,000,000. Trouble arises because the “intrinsic factor” normally produced by the stomach is not present to promote the  absorption B12 from the intestine. This disease was once very serious, but not today. Frequent injections of Vitamins B12 will usually  restore these patient to somewhere near normal.

Lack of Iron

Sometimes the level of iron in the body may be lowered due to chronic blood loss, as mentioned on previous pages,  or more probably to a poor diet. Iron may also be lost from the body because of chronic diarrhea and other condition such as spruce. Any patient with a sever hookworm infection  will also with a sever hookworm infection will also have some anemia. Iron may not be properly absorbed because the stomach is not  producing sufficient hydraulic acid. Sometimes this occurs during pregnancy. Unfortunately, it not effects the mother but also the baby. Sever iron deficiency anemia is seen in babies who are kept on a milk diet too long. Iron is also lost to the body through excessive menstrual bleeding. This is often the reason why some younger women are weak and tired.

The patient usually complains of weakness, easily fatigue, and irritability. Other symptoms include heartburn, flatulence, vague abdominal pains, soreness in the mouth, numbers and tingling in the extremities, and palpitation of the heart. The skin and mucous membranes are pale, the nails are often brittle, and there are fissure or sores at the corners of the mouth. In this form of anemia the red cells are smaller than usual and often irregularly shaped.

The treatment for this condition includes a correction of the diet by foods containing iron. The patient should also given a tablet of ferrous  sulfate twice a daily. Bleeding ulcers should be treated or removed by surgery. Excessive loss of blood through menstruation can now be controlled by suitable medications, but these can be given under the direction of your own doctor.