It is a nutritional disease, which is caused by the lack of vitamin B1 (thiamine) in the body, which can cause intense fatigue and slow movement in those who suffer from this condition. It is divided into two types and can affect, mainly, the nervous and cardiovascular systems.
In that sense, beriberi can be wet or dry. Wet beriberi affects heart function, leading to heart failure in the worst cases. On the other hand, dry beriberi affects the nervous system, causing damage to the nerves and can cause loss of muscle strength and even muscle paralysis. If the disease is not diagnosed and treated in time, it can cause the death of the patient.
Another type of beriberi, but very little known, is genetic beriberi, which is hereditary, transmitted by parents to their children. Those who suffer from this type of beriberi lose the absorption capacity of vitamin B1 when consuming food. This can manifest itself or evolve over time, becoming manifest (as well as the symptoms) when the person is an adult.
In the case of babies, in addition to inheriting the disease, they can suffer from beriberi while they are breastfeeding, because their mother's body lacks vitamin B1 and they do not receive the necessary amounts. Also, if the baby is fed formula or formula, they do not contain enough vitamin B1.
The lack of vitamin B1 in the body, which is the main cause of the disease, can be caused by diets that are unbalanced, insufficient or preserved for a long time. Also, due to functional deficiencies of the affected individual such as diarrhea or malabsorption. Similarly, alcoholism, anorexia, gastrointestinal surgeries, chemotherapy, dialysis and taking high doses of diuretics, can be causative.
Symptoms of the disease vary according to its type. If it is wet, you can witness a very fast heart rate and shortness of breath when waking up, among others, and if it is dry, the person may suffer paralysis, loss of sensitivity in hands and feet, decreased muscle function.
The disease can be diagnosed through a urine sample or by evaluating the amount of vitamin B1 present in the blood and can be avoided by consuming foods high in vitamin B1 such as whole grains, tomatoes, eggs, beets, walnuts, juice orange, among others.
