Things to
Know About Macrocytic
Anemia
Macrocytic anemia is one of the several types of anemia. Anemia
generally appears when the blood volume in our circulatory system
diminishes. Many factors can make that happen. A major injury can cause
a severe loss of blood decreasing the amount of red blood cells in the
body.
The decrease in the amount of red cells leads to a decrease of the
hemoglobin in the blood which creates an oxygen supply problem for
different organs. Most types of anemia create a similar problem but the
severity of the condition can vary drastically according to the cause.
The macrocytic anemia is a mild type of anemia usually connected to a
nutritional deficiency. Its main characteristic is the bigger than
normal red blood cells. The cell volume of a normal red cell is
slightly smaller than one in a person affected by the macrocytic
condition. An alteration on the DNA while the RNA(Ribonucleic acid)
remains intact during
the cell division process is the direct cause of the illness.
Causes
If the red cells in the bone marrow have the same abnormal bigger size
as the one in the general bloodstream the anemia is called
megaloblastic. Elderly people are usually more prone to suffer from
this condition. Alcohol abuse can also be one big factor in the
appearance of this illness. The main cause for this condition is the
lack of certain vitamins. A low level of vitamin B12 or a folic acid
deficiency can be the central cause of the problem. People with liver
disease that are not consuming the right amount of vitamin B12 are very
vulnerable to this type of illness. Pregnant women that are having
problems to absorb the vitamin B12 in their bodies are also very
susceptible.
Symptoms
Gastrointestinal problems might be the responsible for poor absorption
of the vitamin B12. Some medical treatments can also complicate the
vitamin B12 shortage. Symptoms for this condition are similar to those
of other types of anemia but with a couple of differences. Fatigue,
headache, tachycardia, diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorders and
neurological disorders are typical for this disease.
Treatment
Treatment for this type of anemia generally consists in increasing the
levels of vitamin B12 to normal ranges and to make sure the body can
assimilate it. Vitamin B shots are the usual way to increase the
vitamin B levels. This can help to prevent the affection and hinder its
development. Consult your doctor if you feel any of the symptoms
related to macrocytic anemia.
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