Archive for April 29th, 2009

Symptoms of Anemia the Hidden Disease

Comments: 0April 29th, 2009 by admin



Anemia is a general term for a category of blood conditions that affect the red blood cells or the oxygen-carrying hemoglobin they contain.

In anemia, there is either a reduction in the number of red blood cells in circulation or a decrease in the amount or quality of hemoglobin. There are many causes of anemia, including severe blood loss, genetic disorders, and serious diseases. (See iron-deficiency anemia, pernicious anemia [vitamin B12-related], and sickle cell anemia.) Anyone with unexplained anemia should have the cause determined by a qualified doctor.

Some athletes appear to have anemia when their blood is tested, but this may be a normal adaptation to the stress of exercise,1 which does not need treatment. Further evaluation by a qualified doctor is necessary.

The symptoms of anemia include tiredness, headaches, and generally feeling irritable. These symptoms can be severe, but are sometimes overlooked by doctors who assume the symptoms are due to other existing conditions, or the after effects of medication. This means a person’s anemia could go undiagnosed and without treatment, and so the tiredness, headaches and irritation remain, getting worse with time. People who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer are all at risk of anemia.

It’s important to consult your doctor to ensure anemia is properly diagnosed, and not hidden underneath any other condition you have. If you find you’re suffering from anemia then it is important to supplement with deficient vitamins and minerals such as iron, vitamin B12, and folate. In the case of cancer, where the number of prescribed medications taken will probably be high, it is important to check for drug-vitamin interactions.

Don’t let anemia hide behind another one of your health concerns. Get the right supplements to fight both your disease, and the anemia hidden behind it.

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Allergies to Antibiotics and Penicillin Rash Symptoms

Comments: 0April 29th, 2009 by admin



If you or your child get strep throat, a bacterial infection, ear infection or a different breathing disorder, you may be prescribed the antibiotic penicillin to improve your health and kill the bacteria. It’s important to know if you have an allergy to this antibiotic. For those that do, you may have Type E immunoglobulin antibodies that are produced which cause problems. In this case your body is reacting to the penicillin as though it’s the enemy. Be aware that you need to amoxicillin will not be tolerated by your system as well.

An allergic reaction to penicillin may not appear immediately but may take a few to several days to be exhibited. It can show up as an itchy rash. If you notice any swelling of the face, throat or breathing issues you should seek medical attention immediately. Anaphylactic shock is serious and having one’s airway obstructed can be an emergency situation. This usually occurs shortly after taking the medication whereas the antibiotic rash may not manifest itself for several days.

For a penicllin rash without any swelling complications, taking an antihistamine can relieve the itching.

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Posted in Allergy And Sinus

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms – How they Could Save Your Health

Comments: 0April 29th, 2009 by admin



Involved in complex cell metabolism, cyanocobalamin, popularly known as vitamin B12, has a bit of a rough time being absorbed by the body. A chemical located in the stomach called “intrinsic factor” processes B12, and anything affecting your ability to produce intrinsic factor can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency. In this article, we’ll look at the symptoms of this condition, what causes it, and the reason why it may actually be beneficial if you get it. Sort of.

Through a complicated exchange of molecules, vitamin B12 processes energy in your body’s cells. It’s absolutely necessary for life. Unfortunately, some people may become deficient in it for several reasons. If you have an inflammatory disease that affects the stomach, for instance, you may be lacking in the vital intrinsic factor necessary for vitamin B12 absorption. Also, since B12 comes from animal products, you may be deficient if you are a vegetarian who doesn’t eat dairy products. In one study, the diabetes medication metformin negatively affects B12 levels.

So you may be lacking in B12. What happens next? Do you feel it?

The main symptoms are weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and possibly a pale skin color. These are the symptoms of anemia, and B12 deficiency causes a condition called “pernicious anemia.” Plain old anemia is caused by a lack of iron in the blood, and is treated with iron supplementation. But pernicious anemia does not respond to iron, as it’s directly caused by a lack of B12. So, as you can guess, B12 is the cure for pernicious anemia. But the appearance of this disease may actually be considered a fortunate event.

Having low levels of B12 for a long duration eventually leads to neurological damage. This usually manifests itself in the form of tingling in your hands and feet, and possibly clumsiness while walking. This is permanent nerve damage. Which is why pernicious anemia can actually be seen as a good thing. It acts as a “warning sign” that permanent nerve damage is coming if you don’t do something to correct the situation.

But there’s a caveat.

The B class of vitamins has eight members, and they all work in harmony in the body and is the reason you may often see reference to a supplement as “vitamin B complex.” Among these separate but similar vitamins is one called folic acid, or just folate. Folate is actually vitamin B9, and supplementation with it may have a rather serious side effect in certain circumstances. The problem is that it staves off pernicious anemia. So let’s say you were taking a B9 supplement, or you just happen to have naturally high levels of folate, perhaps from the food you eat. Let’s further suppose you are, unbeknownst to you, deficient in vitamin B12.

Now we have a dangerous problem. You will never get the usual deficiency symptoms, but you will eventually get permanent neurological damage. The folate cancels out your “convenient” anemia symptoms and allows the condition to advance well beyond where it would have.

What should you do, then? If you suspect you may be deficient in vitamin B12, please see a doctor. Oral supplements are not efficient enough at being absorbed to bring your B12 levels back to normal. Only injections, and in some cases a large amount of sublingual B12 supplements, can cure B12 deficiency. And if you are taking folate (vitamin B9) alone, consider switching to a B complex to make sure you are getting enough B12 as well.

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Posted in anemia