Pernicious anemia is a severe medical issue that can impact a person’s quality of life. It is a rare, life-threatening condition that affects the body in ways we might not think of and can lead to other medical conditions over time. We will discuss pernicious anemia, the symptoms you may experience, the causes of the condition, and available treatment options. Knowing this disease and how it affects people will help you combat it.

What is pernicious anemia?
If you’ve never heard of pernicious anemia, you’re not alone. This relatively rare condition is caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency and occurs when your body can’t absorb it properly. Vitamin B12 is essential for forming red blood cells and maintaining a healthy nervous system.

Who is most at risk for developing pernicious anemia?
Genetics plays a role in pernicious anemia, as with many other diseases. If you have a family member with pernicious anemia, you may be at increased risk of developing the condition yourself. Additionally, people between the ages of 41 and 50 are more likely to develop pernicious anemia than any other age group. And while both men and women can be affected by this disease, females are slightly more likely to develop it than males.

Causes

Crohn’s disease
Crohn’s is an inflammatory bowel disorder that affects the intestines and can be linked to a lack of iron in the blood and can cause pernicious anemia.

Graves’ disease
Graves’ disease is another autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation throughout the body, including the liver and pancreas.

Addison’s disease
Addison’s is a chronic kidney failure resulting from damage to the adrenal glands (the organs responsible for producing hormones like cortisol). This damage leads to low levels of iron in the bloodstream, causing pernicious anemia.

Hypoparathyroidism
The most common cause is hypoparathyroidism, which occurs when the parathyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones to control blood calcium levels.

Type-1 diabetes mellitus
Type-1 diabetes mellitus is a form of diabetes where you don’t produce insulin and need it entered into you daily, so glucose doesn’t get converted into energy. When there isn’t enough sugar available for cells to use for energy, they start breaking down protein instead, which releases nitrogenous waste products called uremic toxins. These toxins block the absorption of essential minerals like iron, leading to pernicious anemia.

Symptoms
The symptoms of pernicious anemia vary depending on the person affected. However, some common symptoms include the following:

Weakness
This may be due to general malaise or muscle pain.

Pale skin
The sufferer may have difficulty getting enough oxygen to their tissues and will often look as if they are sickly or anemic even when they’re not ill.

Headaches
These can be severe and occur most commonly in the morning hours.

Chest pain
This is usually mild but can become more intense over time.

Fatigue
Pernicious anemia patients tend to feel very tired all the time, regardless of how much sleep they get.

Heartburn
This symptom is prevalent in people with low stomach acid levels.

Memory loss
People with pernicious anemia often experience difficulties recalling recent events.

Treatment options
If you have been diagnosed with pernicious anemia, your doctor will likely recommend vitamin B12 remedies. It is a crucial nutrient that helps keep the body’s nerves and blood cells healthy. Without enough vitamin B12, people can develop anemia, which can cause fatigue and other symptoms.
Vitamin B12 cures are commonly given on a schedule of one dose per week for six weeks, followed by one every month for life. The initial dose may be higher if you are experiencing severe symptoms of anemia. Your doctor will determine your best dosing schedule based on your individual needs.