Over time, alcohol can increase an individual’s risk of dying from a range of different medical problems. Fortunately, overcoming your addiction can help you avoid and mitigate the long-term effects of alcohol abuse.
If you have consumed alcohol for an extended period of time, you may end up developing macrocytic anemia. This condition is diagnosed with blood tests, so you should schedule an appointment with your doctor if you notice any symptoms. Then, your doctor can recommend the best methods of treating your anemia. While supplements can alleviate your symptoms, this condition will continue to be a problem if you don’t stop drinking.
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What Is Macrocytic Anemia?
When someone’s body doesn’t have enough, healthy red blood cells, it can cause them to become anemic. Standard anemia can be caused by many different health issues. For instance, vegetarians often become anemic because of vitamin B12 deficiencies. Anemia can also occur as a result of bone marrow disorders and autoimmune diseases.
You can develop anemia if your body can’t make hemoglobin and red blood cells fast enough. Likewise, excessive blood loss can cause your levels of hemoglobin and red blood cells to drop. Finally, anemia can occur if your body is destroying red blood cells faster than they can be made.
With macrocytic anemia, an individual has abnormally large red blood cells. These red blood cells are also lacking in nutrients, which is why they tend to break down quickly. Typically, macrocytic anemia happens when someone doesn’t have enough folate and B vitamins in their body to produce healthy red blood cells.
The Symptoms of Macrocytic Anemia
When someone has anemia, they often experience weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and dizziness. Anemia can often cause headaches, cold hands or feet, chest pain, and irregular heartbeats. Sometimes, anemia will make the individual’s skin appear yellow or pale.
Macrocytic anemia can cause the same symptoms as standard anemia. Because macrocytic anemia is caused by a lack of B vitamins and folate, it can cause a few other symptoms as well. While each person is unique, the following symptoms are fairly common with macrocytic anemia.
- Balance issues
- Paresthesia
- Upset stomach
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Mood changes
- Loss of appetite or weight
- Diarrhea
- Poor concentration
- Brittle nails
- Memory loss
How Macrocytic Anemia Is Diagnosed
To diagnose macrocytic anemia, a doctor will typically start by asking about your lifestyle, eating habits, and medical history. If the doctor thinks that anemia may be the cause of your symptoms, they will order a blood test. The first blood test is normally a complete blood count. If this indicates the possibility of anemia, the doctor will give you a peripheral blood smear. With this test, you can spot early changes to your red blood cells and get a diagnosis of macrocytic anemia.
While the previous blood tests are the most common, there are other tests that may be used. For example, a doctor may test nutrient levels to see if a nutrient deficiency is the underlying cause. They may also request blood tests to rule out hypothyroidism or liver disease. In some cases, you may even be referred to a hematologist so that you can find out the type of anemia you are dealing with.
How Does Alcohol Cause Macrocytic Anemia?
The majority of macrocytic anemia cases are related to alcohol consumption. However, there are multiple factors that can cause this medical ailment. Typically, there are two main forms of macrocytic anemia.
Megaloblastic macrocytic anemia is related to errors in how your red blood cell DNA is produced. Often, this happens because of folate or vitamin B12 deficiency. Additionally, chemotherapy medications, antiretroviral drugs, and antiseizure medications can cause this type of problem to occur.
Meanwhile, nonmegaloblastic types of macrocytic anemia are often caused by chronic alcohol use disorder. Additionally, this form of anemia can be due to hypothyroidism or liver disease.
How To Treat Macrocytic Anemia
If your macrocytic anemia is caused by alcoholism, one of the most important things you can do is stop drinking. However, quitting cold turkey can be dangerous. Because of this, you should turn to a rehab center for support as you work on becoming sober.
Typically, macrocytic anemia is treated by remedying the cause of the condition. After running blood tests, your doctor may recommend supplements to treat a nutrient deficiency. Normally, the doctor will prescribe vitamin B12 and folate to alleviate a patient’s anemia.
With a vitamin B12 deficiency, the doctor may recommend eating more foods that contain vitamin B12. For instance, you may consume more fortified grains, spinach, chicken, red meat, and eggs to boost your levels of vitamin B12. If you are severely deficient, you may be given injections or oral vitamins to boost your vitamin B12 levels.
Similarly, you may be prescribed an oral vitamin to remedy low levels of folate. You can also get folate through kale, oranges, spinach, lentils, and enriched grains.
Can You Reverse Macrocytic Anemia?
It is possible to treat and reverse macrocytic anemia. Normally, doctors will start by diagnosing and treating the underlying cause. You may also have to take supplements or eat specific foods to remedy a vitamin deficiency.
If you develop complications from macrocytic anemia, these problems may need to be treated as well. For example, macrocytic anemia can cause dementia and peripheral neuropathy. Untreated macrocytic anemia can cause long-term damage to your nervous system, so it is important to treat this condition as soon as possible.
One of the most effective ways to treat alcohol-induced macrocytic anemia is to quit drinking. If you become sober and eat a healthy diet, your anemia will gradually start to improve.
How To Get Help for Substance Use Disorders
As long as someone continues to drink, alcohol affects their health, and they may need ongoing treatment for alcohol-related anemia, such as macrocytic anemia. This condition can result from hematological complications of alcoholism, including folic acid deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. Seeking help at a detox center is a crucial step in addressing these health concerns and beginning recovery.
During the initial intake, the treatment center will evaluate all medical problems associated with substance use disorders, including any abnormalities in red blood cell count, iron levels, and potential vitamin B deficiencies. This assessment is crucial because alcohol use disorder often leads to hematological complications, such as macrocytosis, megaloblastic anemia, and other causes of anemia tied to malnutrition, liver damage, or alcoholic liver disease. Platelets and enzyme levels may also be checked to identify any toxic effects or dysfunction resulting from alcohol consumption.
The detox stage is the initial step in treatment, allowing your body to cleanse from the toxic effects of alcohol. Since quitting alcohol can result in serious withdrawal symptoms, such as hematological and gastrointestinal side effects, it’s crucial to undergo detox under professional medical supervision. Healthcare providers will monitor iron stores, folate deficiency, and any other symptoms of anemia or related health risks.
Once the detox process is complete, you can begin rehab. therapy options in rehab, including individual and group therapy, can help address both the psychological and physical effects of alcohol and substance use. Through tailored therapy sessions, you’ll learn to manage triggers and build strategies for recovery, ultimately reducing the increased risk of relapse and working toward improved well-being.
Through a comprehensive treatment program, including healthcare provider support and regular monitoring of cirrhosis, alcoholic liver disease, and liver damage risks, you can take the next step toward recovery and healthier hematological function.
Find Addiction Help in New York
Unfortunately, alcohol use disorder and excessive alcohol consumption affect around 28.9 million Americans over the age of 12 in the last year. For many of these people, heavy drinking and high alcohol intake will have a debilitating impact on their physical, mental, and financial health. If alcohol addiction isn’t treated promptly, it can lead to macrocytic anemia and other health problems associated with excessive drinking.
In order to reverse macrocytic anemia, it’s essential to address the underlying cause. Continuing to drink alcohol, especially in heavy amounts, will only worsen macrocytic anemia over time. Eventually, heavy alcohol consumption can cause long-term damage to your nervous system and lead to conditions such as dementia.
The good news is that you can reverse many of the effects of macrocytic anemia by simply quitting drinking alcohol. Additionally, your doctor can recommend the right supplements and foods to help you recover from macrocytic anemia. To learn more about taking the next step in conquering your alcohol use disorder and reducing your alcohol intake, reach out to one of our intake specialists today.
Published on: 2024-10-31
Updated on: 2024-10-31
