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Vitamin B12 deficiency Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is necessary for the production of red blood cells and plays an important role in maintaining the health of nerve cells and in the formation of genetic material. It is a water-soluble vitamin found in certain foods: meat, fish, milk products and eggs. Vegetables alone are an inadequate source of vitamin B12. Initial symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include dizziness and fatigue. Untreated deficiency can result in anaemia and damage to the nervous system.  Intramuscular vitamin B12 injections form the basis of most treatment plans. Causes Vitamin B12 deficiency is most commonly caused by a lack of intrinsic factor - a substance produced in the stomach that is necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12 from food. When intrinsic factor is lacking, vitamin B12 is unable to be absorbed and is therefore unable to be utilised by the body. Pernicious anaemia is one such condition where the product...

Varicose veins - symptoms, causes, treatment Varicose veins are veins that become enlarged and contorted, and sometimes cause discomfort or pain. A range of treatments – surgical and non-surgical – are available, depending on the severity of the symptoms and a person's circumstances and preferences.   Varicose veins are more common in women than in men and tend to run in families. They usually develop between the ages of 30 and 60 years and tend to worsen with age. General information Veins are the blood vessels that carry blood from the body to the heart (whereas arteries carry blood from the heart to the body). Properly functioning veins have a series of one-way valves that keep the blood flowing in one direction towards the heart.  Varicose veins occur when, as a result of various causes, the valves within the veins become inefficient (incompetent) and allow blood to backflow. The blood pools in the area below the affected valve causing the vein to enlarge and ...

Raynaud's disease Raynaud's disease is a condition affecting the circulation of blood in the fingers and toes, usually when exposed to cold, sudden temperature changes or emotional stress. Symptoms include fingers and toes turning a distinctive white or blue colour and becoming numb.  When warmed they turn red and painful throbbing replaces the numbness.   The condition is caused by small blood vessels in the affected areas constricting and reducing blood flow.  Raynaud’s almost exclusively affects the fingers and toes but in rare cases the tip of the nose or earlobes can be affected.    It is a progressive condition, meaning it tends to worsen. Initially it may only affect the tips of the fingers or toes, but over time may affect whole fingers and toes. The rate of progression differs greatly amongst individuals. Types of Raynaud’s disease There are two types of Raynaud’s disease – Primary and Secondary:   Primary Ray...

Leukaemia – symptoms, diagnosis, treatment Leukaemia is a general name for a group of cancers that originate in the bone marrow and cause abnormal blood cell production. Cure can be achieved in some forms of the disease but treatment options and outcomes will depend on a range of factors, including the type of leukaemia, the extent of the disease and the age and health of the patient. What is leukaemia? Bone marrow is soft, “spongy” material in our bones that in healthy people produces a steady supply of new blood cells (including red blood cells that carry oxygen around the body, white blood cells that help fight infection, and platelets that have a role in blood clotting).  In people with leukaemia, the bone marrow produces large numbers of abnormal white blood cells that grow and multiply “out of control”. These abnormal cells may not function properly and may affect the ability of normal blood cells to perform their usual functions.  There are many types of leukaem...

Pulmonary embolism - symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevention Pulmonary embolism is a blockage of a pulmonary artery in the lungs. It is a serious medical condition. Prompt diagnosis and treatment reduces the risk of complications and death. Preventing pulmonary embolism will focus on preventing or treating blood clots formed in veins in the legs or other parts of the body (deep vein thrombosis).  Causes Pulmonary embolism is usually caused by a blood clot becoming lodged in a pulmonary artery. A pulmonary artery is a major blood vessel that supplies blood to the lungs from the heart. Multiple clots are often involved but not always at the same time.  These blood clots typically come from the deep veins of the legs, especially the calves, but may less commonly originate in other parts of the body. The formation of clots in the veins is known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT).  Sometimes, substances other than a blood clot are responsible for pulmonary embolism. ...

Iron deficiency anaemia Anaemia occurs when you have a low level of red blood cells in your blood. Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common type of anaemia, caused by insufficient iron to support the normal production of red blood cells. Iron deficiency is the most common dietary deficiency in the world and mainly affects children and women (particularly pregnant women). Add caption Causes Red blood cells perform the important task of carrying oxygen (attached to a protein called haemoglobin or ‘haem’) around the body. Anaemia can occur as the result of reduced production, or an increased loss, of red blood cells. The body requires three essential elements – iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid – to produce red blood cells. Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anaemia. Iron deficiency anaemia can be caused by not consuming enough food that contains iron, poor absorption of iron by the body, or loss of iron due to bleeding. Babies are born with sufficient ir...

Haemochromatosis Haemochromatosis is a chronic (long-term) disorder involving the excessive absorption and inappropriate storage of iron.  Symptoms may become evident as a person ages, ranging from lethargy to more serious health problems.  Treatment includes regular removal of blood because much of the body's iron is contained in red blood cells.   Haemochromatosis has a genetic cause and is considered to be the most common genetic disease in the world.    Haemochromatosis occurs in men 2 to 3 times more often than in women.  It usually becomes apparent after the age of 40 in men and age 50 in women.  The appearance of haemochromatosis occurs later in women because menstruation causes blood loss, which increases iron removal. General information Iron is a mineral essential for life. It binds with haemoglobin, a molecule in the blood, to transport oxygen from the lungs to all the tissues of the body. During the digestion of food the ...