Beriberi

Ayurvedic Care For Beriberi (Thiamine Deficiency)

Beriberi is a nutritional disorder caused by low levels of thiamine (vitamin B1), also known as thiamine deficiency. Deficiency of vitamin B1 can lead to lasting damage in the nervous system and heart.

If you can take foods rich in thiamine, your chances of developing beriberi are low. Recent Days, beriberi mostly occurs in people with an alcoholic disorder. Beriberi can be seen in women who have extreme nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (hyperemesis gravidarum), in people with AIDS, and after bariatric surgery. It is common in parts of southeast Asia, where white rice is the main food. In the United States, beriberi is primarily seen in people with chronic alcoholism.

BERIBERI IS DIVIDED INTO TWO TYPES:

Beriberi is divided into four categories as follows:

1. Wet Beriberi: It is the term mainly used for thiamine deficiency in the body which affects cardiovascular system. It causes poor circulation and fluid buildup in the tissues.
2. Dry Beriberi: Nutritional disorder caused by a deficiency of thiamin is known as Dry beriberi.General symptoms include loss of appetite and overall lassitude, digestive irregularities, and a feeling of numbness and weakness in the limbs and extremities.
3. Infantile Beriberi: Disease in infants due to lack of thiamine is known as Infantile Beriberi. This Disease occurs if a breastfeeding mother has an inadequate intake of thiamine.
4. Gastrointestinal Beriberi: Lack of Mild thiamine cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as anorexia, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

What causes beriberi?

The main cause of beriberi is low intake of thiamine. This disease is very rare in regions with access to vitamin-enriched foods, such as certain breakfast cereals and breads. Beriberi is most common in regions of the world where the diet includes unenriched, processed white rice, which only has a tenth of the amount of thiamine as brown rice.

Symptoms Of Beriberi

Symptoms of beriberi will vary depending on the system that is affected (cardiovascular or nervous system).

Wet beriberi symptoms include:

• Waking up short of breath
• Shortness of breath during physical activity
• Rapid heart rate
• Swollen lower legs

Dry beriberi symptoms include:

• Tingling or loss of feeling in the feet and hands
• Decreased muscle function, particularly in the lower legs
• Difficulty speaking
• Pain
• Mental confusion
• Vomiting
• Involuntary eye movement
• Paralysis

Risk factors of Beriberi?

Although it is very rare in developed countries, you may further reduce your risk of developing beriberi by:

• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland)
• Alcohol abuse, which can make it hard for your body to absorb and store
• thiamine
• Genetic Beriberi
• Extreme nausea and vomiting in pregnancy
• Bariatric surgery
• AIDS
• Prolonged diarrhea or use of diuretics
• Undergoing kidney dialysis