scurvy mokgadi

contents Intro… What is scurvy? What are the causes of scurvy? What are the signs and symptoms of scurvy Who discovered the cures for scurvy what is the cure for scurvy? Who are more at risk of contracting scurvy

Intro… Scurvy is are very serious disease, It can cause weakness, bleeding…. If you read on you will find out

What is scurvy Scurvy is nothing more than a serious deficiency of vitamin C and leads to the formation of livid spots on the skin, spongy gums and bleeding from almost all mucous membranes. Vitamin C is essential for the body to manufacture collagen, the connective tissue that helps form healthy bones, teeth, and capillaries, and promotes wound healing. The spots are most abundant on the thighs and legs, and a person with the ailment looks pale, feels depressed, and is partially immobilized. it's easily corrected with supplements . There are two forms of scurvy: adult and infantile. It is characterized by bleeding under the skin, and extreme weakness.

What are the causes of scurvy Inadequate diet : Scurvy develops when the diet lacks adequate amounts of vitamin C. Certain conditions increase the body's demand for vitamin C and therefore increase the risk of deficiency. These conditions include pregnancy, breastfeeding, diarrhea, inflammatory diseases, burns, surgery, and exposure to intense heat or cold. Alcoholism : Scurvy is most oftenly found in alcoholic peoples. Stress : Another important cause of scurvy is stress which increases the utilization of ascorbic acid.

What are the signs and symptoms of scurvy General weakness :The first signs of the disease are exhaustion and general weakness. At the later stages, there is bleeding of the gums, because the lack of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) makes the capillaries fragile and their rupture is common Loosening of Teeth: It is a commonest symptom of scurvy. If not treated earlier, it may be lead to chronic condition. Tiredness : In the deficiency of vitamin-c, there is a feeling of tiredness. Irritability Aches and pains : Due to the deficiency of vitamin-c, there would be pain in different parts of body. Weak capillaries: The blood capillaries become fragile in the deficiency of vitamin-c. Bleeding from old scars Internal bleeding occurs in the affected area of the body. Fatigue Anemia: Due to the deficiency of ascorbic acid, there will be shortage of blood in the body. Common cold/sore throat Heart attack joint pain black-and-blue marks on the skin poor healing of bruises gum disease spongy gums thin hair

Who discovered the cures of scurvy Actually the cures were discovered by a Scottish doctor called James Lind. He discovered them by an experiment in 1753. he got 12 sailors, divided them into six groups, he gave one group cider the other three teaspoons of vinegar each day. He gave a different group one orange and two lemons each day mustard seeds with gin myrrh and so on. In six days the group that had an orange and lemons got better, one went to work the other was strong enough to act as a nurse.

What is the cure for scurvy Increase in intake of fresh vegetables and fruits, especially citrus fruits are necessary to treat scurvy. Additionally, adults need to consume around 300-1,000 mg of ascorbic acid per day and 50mg/day in case of infants to effectively treat the disease. Since the body does not produce vitamin C, it must be obtained from fruits and vegetables. Some excellent sources of vitamin C are oranges, olives, guava, green peppers, watermelon, papaya, strawberry, kiwi fruit, mango, honey, mango powder, broccoli, tomatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, and citrus juices or juices fortified with Vitamin C. Alma or the Indian gooseberry is one of the richest sources of Vitamin C, whether fresh or the dried, powdered form. Raw and cooked leafy greens (turnip, spinach), red and green peppers, fresh tomatoes, potatoes, pineapple are also rich sources of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is sensitive to light, air, and heat, so it is best to eat fruits and vegetables raw, or minimally cooked in order to retain their full vitamin C content. Treatment of Scurvy with vitamin C is usually successful, if the deficiency is recognized early enough. If left untreated, the condition can even cause death

Who are most at risk of contrasting scurvy Scurvy is common in persons who follow a very restricted diet especially lacking in ascorbic acid, or who are under extreme physiological stress or are chronic alcoholics. Infants can also develop scurvy if they are devoid of mother’s milk, and switched to top-up milk, without providing sufficient Vitamin C supplements. Babies of mothers who take extremely high doses of vitamin C during pregnancy may also develop infantile scurvy.