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Beriberi For this assignment I’ve decided to choose a very interesting topic about a disease called Beriberi. This caught my attention because I’ve never heard of it. This disease is caused by not consuming vitamin B1, and it is caused by consuming a lot alcohol which this affects the nervous system. I would like to improve this article by searching how to cure this disease and how this can affect the body and the nervous system

Two types •	Wet – affects cardiovascular system •	Dry – nervous system

Tests •	Physical examination – congestive heart failure A person with late-stage beriberi may be confused or have loss of memory and delusions. •	Neurological exam •	Blood & urine tests

Prevention •	Eating with a proper diet; rich in thiamine and other vitamins •	Not consuming alcohol beverages. •	Taking a lot of vitamin B.

Affecting around the world •	Not so common in the US •	Brasil •	Most common in far eastern countries

Beriberi is a disease in which the body does not have enough thiamine or vitamin B1.

There are two major type of this disease: Wet beriberi and Dry beriberi. Wet Beriberi affects the cardiovascular system. Dry beriberi and WernickepKorsakoff syndrome affect the nervous system.

Beriberi disease is rare in the United States because most of their food is enriched with vitamins. Beriberi is usually originated with people who abuse alcohol, drinking heavily can to poor nutrition and the excess of alcohol makes the body difficult to absorb thiamine. There is a genetic beriberi, which is a very rare condition. This is inherited. People with a genetic beriberi tend to lose the ability to absorb thiamine from foods. This can happen slowly over time and symptoms occur when the person is in the adulthood. Beriberi disease can also occur in breast-fed infants. This is because the mother’s body is lacking thiamine.

The symptoms for dry beriberi include: •	Difficulty walking •	Loss of feeling (sensation) in hands and feet •	Loss of muscle function or paralysis of the lower legs •	Mental confusion/speech difficulties •	Pain •	Strange eye movements (nystagmus) •	Tingling •	Vomiting The symptoms for wet beriberi: •	Awakening at night short of breath •	Increased heart rate •	Shortness of breath with activity •	Swelling of the lower legs

In order to treat this disease, there are some exams and test: A physical examination may show the signs of congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer to pump out enough oxygen rich in blood. This physical examination includes: •	Difficulty breathing with neck veins that stick out •	Enlarged heart •	Fluid in the lungs •	Rapid heartbeat •	Swelling in both lower legs

There is also neurological exam this shows the signs of: •	Changes in the walk •	Coordination problems •	Decreased reflexes •	Drooping of the eyelids

As other typical test, blood tests and urine tests may have to be done. Blood tests are for measuring the amount of thiamine in the blood. Urine tests are to see if thiamine is passing through urine.

There is treatment for beriberi disease. This is to replace the thiamine your body is lacking. This is done with supplement of thiamine. In order to give thiamine supplements, a shot/ injection, or it can be taken by mouth.

Beriberi is most common in: Far Eastern countries, where their daily diet is boiled white rice. United States, consuming a lot of alcohol causes this. Basically beriberi is most common in parts where people don’t consume foods with vitamins especially high in thiamine. An example would be, uncooked fish.