Contents
In line with its mission, the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony makes every effort to provide reliable medical content supported by the latest scientific knowledge. The additional flag “Checked Content” indicates that the article has been reviewed by or written directly by a physician. This two-step verification: a medical journalist and a doctor allows us to provide the highest quality content in line with current medical knowledge.
Our commitment in this area has been appreciated, among others, by by the Association of Journalists for Health, which awarded the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony with the honorary title of the Great Educator.
Beriberi is a disease that occurs as a result of a deficiency of vitamin B1, or thiamine. It is an extreme form of avitaminosis, leading to death in earlier times. Beriberi disrupts the work of the nervous system, cardiovascular system and the immune system. It causes tremors, muscle weakness and atrophy, palpitations, memory impairment, and digestive ailments.
Objawy give
Choroba beri beri has two types:
- dry type of beriberi, during which symptoms mainly appear from the nervous system,
- wet type beriberi, which gives symptoms of the cardiovascular system.
Objawy give (both types) are as follows: nerve paralysis, weakness and sensory disturbances, rapid fatigue, pain, gradual atrophy of muscles, especially the muscles in the legs, tingling sensation in the hands and feet, nystagmus, palpitations, shortness of breath, limb edema, memory impairment and difficulty concentrating, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. In the initial stage of development give give you may experience muscle tremors, low blood pressure and a rapid pulse. For these symptoms, your doctor should order a blood test for a level vitamin B 1.
The causes of beriberi disease
Cause since the disease there is an extreme deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1) in the body. This disease has been known since ancient times – it appeared mainly in countries where husked rice is the staple food (vitamin B1 is found in brown, non-husked rice – white rice is devoid of nutritional value). Vitamin B1 plays a very important role in tissue respiration. When there is no such thing in the body vitamin (there is not enough of it), the tissues accumulate pyruvic acid, which is formed in the process of glucose breakdown. The excess of this acid causes damage to tissues, nerve cells and muscles, therefore it is dangerous to health and life.
Vitamin B1 it also ensures the proper functioning of the nervous system and the immune system. Its deficiency leads to disorders of the nervous system and makes the immune system unable to fight even mild infections.
Vitamin B1 when taken with food, it is flushed out of the body by excessive consumption of coffee, tea and alcohol. Diarrhea and vomiting, taking certain medications (such as diuretics), malnutrition and eating foods containing thiaminase (an enzyme that destroys thiamine) can also contribute to thiamine deficiency. Such food items include, for example, raw fish.
Vitamin B1 deficiency leading to the appearance since the disease it can also be associated with an overactive thyroid gland.
How is beriberi treated?
Beriberi disease is treated with administration he loves (vitamin B1) to make up for its deficiencies. Typically, vitamin B1 is given by intramuscular injection. In principle, it cannot be overdosed because its digestibility from the gastrointestinal tract is not high, but excess thiamine it is removed from the body along with urine.
After making up for deficiencies vitamin B1 it is imperative to follow a proper diet to prevent it beriberi relapses in the future.
Profilaktyka beri beri disease
Prevention since the disease it is about preventing it from occurring in the body thiamine deficiencies (vitamin B1). This can be prevented by using an appropriate one diet. This should be especially taken care of by pregnant and breastfeeding women, the elderly and people exposed to stress.
A good source vitamin B1 there is pork. Thiamin is also found in whole grain products such as whole grain bread, pasta, oatmeal and bran, in barley, buckwheat and semolina, in brown rice, eggs, pistachio and peanuts, in sunflower seeds and dry seeds legumes.
Lots of money vitamin B1 we can also find green peas, bananas, avocados, beets, watermelon, raspberries, currants, mandarins, spinach, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and leeks.
It is especially important to take care of the right one diet rich in products containing vitamin B1 in the case of consuming large amounts of black tea and coffee and drinking alcohol. People exposed to stress should also monitor the level of thiamine in the blood and supplement its possible deficiencies so that no symptoms such as muscle weakness and tremors and palpitations.