IPHY 2420 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Heme, Macrocytic Anemia, Pernicious Anemia
17 Dec 2017
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Document Summary
Anemia means without blood and is a deficiency in hemoglobin levels. Macrocytic anemia is the enlargement of red blood cells, which happens to due to low folate and vitamin b12 levels. Microcytic anemia is the decrease in red blood cell size which happens due to deficiencies in copper and vitamin b6. Low folate masks the deficiencies of vitamin b12 making macrocytic anemia harder to diagnose. Macrocytic anemia results in large red blood cells carrying insufficient hemoglobin common symptoms of anemia include fatigue, paleness, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and shortness of breath. Microcytic anemia symptoms include paleness, impaired memory, depressed immune system etc. Vitamin b12 is essential for proper nerve and red blood cell functionality. Homocysteine"s cause heart attacks if they are not broken down. These are problematic for vegans because they get very little vitamin b12 in the diet. B12 deficiencies occur due to low stomach acid and intrinsic factor levels.
