Scurvy is a disease that results from the deficiency of vitamin C otherwise known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C being a water-soluble vitamin, ought to be taken in on daily basis as the body is not able to store it unlike the fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A, D, E & K, which can be stored in the body's fat. Being a vitamin, it's role in the human body is quite vital, and a slight deficiency of it would make many things go wrong, and these would be expressed in not-too-good symptoms. Seeing how vital this is, Healthvim would love to enlighten you on all you should know about scurvy and treatment as well, hope you are ready!!!! .
Scurvy as earlier Said is a deficiency of vitamin C, vitamin play vital roles in the human system as it is involved in making collagen which is key in the connective tissues, vitamin C also aids in the absorption of iron, in building the immune system, and also aid in the metabolism of cholesterol as well as its antioxidant function and lots more, now you understand us when we say lots of things would go wrong with deficiency of vitamin C.
Scurvy is no new disease as it has been taken note of since the ancient Greek and Egyptian times, quite a long time ago right??, sailors who travel on the sea actually suffered from it the most as they were not able to adequate supply of fresh fruits and vegetables to provide them with necessary vitamins including vitamin C, many died due to it. Though scurvy tend to be rare in this modern age,but it is just rare it still exists as people who do not consume enough of the needed vitamin C get to pay the price.
SYMPTOMS
symptoms of scurvy may start to become visible after 8-12 weeks, and these symptoms includes;
1.loss of appetite
2.weight loss and fatigue
3.lethargy
4.anemia
5.debility
6.some parts of the body would start to swell
7.loss of teeth and ulceration of gums
8.spontaneous bleeding
9.delay in wound healing
10.shortness of breath
11.mood changes.
TREATMENT
Treatment of scurvy is quite easy as it does not entail sophisticated medical care, but rather one would just need to increase intake of vitamin C to counter it's deficiency, the recommended dosage is given below;
1 - 2 grams per day for 2 - 3 days
500 milligram per day for 7 days
100 milligrams per day for 30 - 90 days.
Consistent intake of the recommended dosage would cause total recovery after a period of 3 months.
FOOD SOURCES OF VITAMIN C
Some food sources which are rich in vitamin C includes fruits such as guava, oranges, lemons, strawberries,papaya. Vegetable sources entails cabbage, bell peppers , carrots, tomatoes , broccoli, potatoes e.t.c.
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