Anemia is a general body disorder characterized by failure of red blood cells to transport enough oxygen in the body. Iron deficiency disorder is the most popular kind of anemia. It occurs due to the drop of iron levels in the body. However, this disorder can either occur due to loss of blood or insufficient intake of iron in diets. The second mechanism may involve failure of body metabolisms to supply enough iron to the bone marrow. This failure, may also affect the absorption of iron from the bone marrow thus reducing the iron levels available in the body for use. Limited absorption of iron reduces the formation of heme which ultimately leads to the iron deficiency anemia. Iron is predominant in the hemoglobin cells and the myoglobin (Hammer & McPhee, 2014). Generally, iron in its ferrous form converts oxygen in an irreversible process. Essentially in any hemoglobin unit, four iron molecules are required for its synthesis. Therefore, limited supply of iron reduces the formation of hemoglobin in the body and the respective myglobin cells responsible for oxygen storage in the body.
Pernicious anemia is a body disorder commonly caused by the body’s failure to absorb vitamin B 12 obtained from diets. Insufficient amount of vitamin B 12 in the body reduces the availability of the intrinsic factor in blood. This element is very fundamental in the formation of the red blood cells’ DNA. The reduction of the intrinsic factor results in the abnormal formation of red blood cells nuclear and cytoplasm. Generally, a reduced amount of vitamin B 12 slows down the synthesis of red blood cells. However, this autoimmune process that ultimately hurts the parietal cells is hereditary. Relatives with a history of the pernicious anemia are likely to exhibit the symptoms of this disorder (Hammer & McPhee, 2014).
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Both pernicious and iron deficiency forms of anemia share certain similarities. The most common similarity is that they can both occur due to dietary deficiencies. Intake of foods with fewer proportions of vitamin B12 and iron can cause these body disorders. Another key concept is that both disorders result in the reduction of hemoglobin in the body. This is a common occurrence for both types of anemia. For instance, vitamin B 12 is very core in the nuclear maturation and formation of the red blood cells’ DNA (Hammer & McPhee, 2014). On the other hand, iron is very essential in the synthesis of a unit red blood cell. In addition, the two anemia types share similar symptoms such as headaches which are majorly caused by limited supply of oxygen in the brain. However, these two types of anemia differ in many dimensions. Iron deficiency anemia is majorly caused by the reduced levels of iron in the bone marrow as opposed to the pernicious anemia caused by reduced levels of vitamin B 12 . Contrary to the iron deficiency anemia, pernicious anemia may show the anemic symptoms first before the reduction in the number of hemoglobin cells. However, another major difference is that the pernicious anemia is more hereditary as opposed to the iron deficiency anemia.
In underdeveloped countries, poor dietary habits are the major causes of iron deficiency anemia. Intake of foods with insufficient iron proportions reduces the iron levels in the body thus resulting to anemic conditions. However, in developed countries, iron deficiency anemia is majorly caused by general blood loss which can occur due to excessive menstruation and other health conditions such as hernia ( Warsch & Byrnes, 2013). This blood loss creates an imbalance in the iron used for hemoglobin synthesis and the one stored for future use. The pernicious anemia, on the other hand, is caused by poor dietary habits. The intake of foods with less content of vitamin B 12 can cause this disorder ( Huether & McCance, 2012) . However, it is also hereditary since the autoimmune process directed towards the gastric parietal cells forms a genetic pattern. Additionally, this anemia can also be caused by alcoholism and intake of other drugs. Drugs may reduce the acidity of gastritis thus reducing the body absorption of the vitamin B 12.
Studies have corroborated that about 30% of people who are genetically related to individuals with pernicious anemia are likely to exhibit symptoms of this disorder (Moll & Davis, 2017; Hammer & McPhee, 2014). Pernicious anemia follows the hereditary line depending on the genetic combinations that result in high autoantibodies in the gastritis. Also, study done by Warsch and Byrnes (2013) further indicate that age matters a lot in the manifestation of this disorder. It is more prevalent for individuals who are beyond 30 years of age. Therefore, old people are likely to exhibit anemic symptoms compared to the younger generation. Pernicious anemia is also common among females as compared to the males. Especially those who fall within the first-degree of inheritance are likely to show fundamental traits of this disorder. Studies have also corroborated that this anemia is very common among individuals of both European and African origin. However, those of Asian origin are likely to show few or no symptoms related to this anemia. It is more prevalent among individuals of Scandinavian and northern Europe origin (Moll & Davis, 2017). Poor behaviors such as alcoholism, drug intake, and poor dietary habits play a crucial role in contracting pernicious anemia. This is due to the fact that these habits reduce the ability of the body to absorb vitamin B 12 .
References
Hammer, G. D., & McPhee, S. J. (2014). Pathophysiology of Disease: An Introduction to Clinical Medicine. (7th ed.) New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education
Huether, S. E., & McCance, K. L. (2012). Understanding Pathophysiology (Laureate custom ed). St. Louis, MO: Mosby .
Moll, R., & Davis, B. (2017). Iron, vitamin B12 and folate. Medicine , 45 (4), 198-203.
Warsch, S., & Byrnes, J. (2013). Emerging causes of iron deficiency anemia refractory to oral iron supplementation. World J Gastroin-test Pharmacol Ther, 4, 49-53
