Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disease that attacks the stomach cells responsible for producing intrinsic factor. This protein is crucial for absorbing vitamin B12 from food in the intestines. Due to the lack of intrinsic factor, individuals with pernicious anemia experience vitamin B12 deficiency.

Pernicious anemia gained its name due to its historical deadliness, before treatments were discovered. The medical community now widely recognizes that pernicious anemia, also known as megaloblastic anemia, can be treated with vitamin B12. This established connection makes vitamin B12 and pernicious anemia intrinsically linked.

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What is Pernicious Anemia?

Anemia is a medical condition in which the body decreases its production of red blood cells. The blood’s hemoglobin count decreases, and/or the blood carries less oxygen.

Pernicious anemia is a specific type of anemia in which the body fails to make enough red blood cells.

The body is unable to produce red blood cells because the process requires two key ingredients. Vitamin B12 and intrinsic factor (a type of protein made in the stomach lining). In the digestive tract. Vitamin B12 binds with intrinsic factor so that the vitamin can be absorbed in the small intestine. Intrinsic factor is necessary for B12 absorption.

In most cases of pernicious anemia, the body’s own immune system attacks the cells in the stomach that manufacture intrinsic factor. As such, there is no intrinsic factor to bond with B12, so the body is unable to absorb this nutrient.

Without vitamin B12, the body is unable to produce a sufficient quantity of red blood cells, which results in pernicious anemia.

Symptoms of Pernicious Anemia

The progression of pernicious anemia’s symptoms is slow, so it is difficult for many people to recognize the root of their problem.

The only way to tell for sure if you have pernicious anemia is to consult with your doctor, undergo testing for complete blood count (CBC), vitamin B12 deficiency, and/or intrinsic factor deficiency.

However, common symptoms that accompany pernicious anemia include:

• weakness, fatigue
• headaches
• unexpected weight loss
• chest pain
• unbalanced gait
• muscle tightness

If you regularly have any of these symptoms then consult with your doctor as they could indicate a serious health problem.

Pernicious Anemia Treatment

Recognizing the connection between vitamin B12 and pernicious anemia has transformed this once-fatal condition into a treatable one.

To address pernicious anemia, we focus on tackling the underlying vitamin B12 deficiency. Due to the compromised intrinsic factor in the stomach. Alternative measures are needed to ensure the body receives enough B12 for red blood cell production.

The most common treatment is injectable B12. Which bypasses the stomach and delivers the vitamin directly into the bloodstream for efficient absorption. Our pharmacy offers a convenient solution: you can purchase B12 shots from our selection of vitamin injections and even have them delivered right to your door.

Once you are on a vitamin B12 regimen to treat pernicious anemia, it is important to continue to monitor your B12 and iron levels. This will be a lifelong process. Though regularly taking vitamin B12 can help keep the illness at bay.

The question regarding why use vitamin B12 is clearly shown here: so that you can avoid illness such as pernicious anemia and treat those conditions if you do happen to fall sick. Vitamin B12 is a crucially important vitamin, so be sure to include sufficient amounts in your diet and supplement choices.