Scurvy returns and becomes more common
The Internet has become a blue ocean for digital states, embodied in the form of social networks, services and online stores. There were also those guys who raised the Jolly Roger flag and kept it, despite the recent loss of the Flibusta admin. And what brings us closer to the pirates of the past is not only the spirit of adventurism, but also the chances of contracting scurvy. Moreover, more people will suffer from the disease today than in the Middle Ages.
In general, if you look through the previous materials, you will be convinced of my extremely optimistic vision of the future and faith in man as a highly developed organism. However, movement towards the technological singularity is only possible when one draws conclusions from past mistakes. Especially when these mistakes are knocking on the door.
Scurvy and the first cases
Scurvy caused by vitamin C deficiency is back in the spotlight after a 51-year-old Australian man was hospitalized with an acute case of the disease. What is phenomenal is that the incident took place in Australia, an industrialized state of the Western bloc.
The man went to the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, Western Australia, with a painful rash on his legs, which then spread throughout his body. The man underwent a series of tests to determine (it's not lupus, House!) why the blood vessels so inflamed.
The man also had blood in his urine and obvious signs of anemia, but extensive tests revealed no signs autoimmune diseaseswhich can even cause schizophrenia. Also, scientists did not detect any blood disease or internal bleeding. It was only when the conversation turned to diet that it became apparent that the symptoms were consistent with scurvy, a disease that could be on the rise again in rich countries as more people face cost-of-living pressures.
Lifestyle and scurvy
A study of the medical history showed that the patient lived in poor conditions. He had financial difficulties and therefore neglected his nutrition. His diet consisted primarily of processed foods and lacked vegetables and fruits. Sometimes he skipped meals, which happened more often in recent weeks. He also stopped taking vitamin and mineral supplements prescribed after gastric bypass surgery because he could not afford them. Therefore, we assumed nutritional deficiency.
From the doctors' report.
The patient eventually recovered by taking daily vitamin C (1000 mg), vitamin D3, folic acid, and multivitamin supplements, but scurvy can be fatal if left untreated. Because vitamin C is essential for wound healing, immune system support, and bone regeneration, poor nutrition for one month can trigger the condition, with early signs including a painful rash, swollen legs, fatigue, and severe bruising. The disease can then progress and become fatal due to infection or sudden bleeding. And all because unbalanced diet.
Although scurvy killed millions of sailors centuries ago, the disease was rare in developed countries such as the United States and Australia. However, researchers believe that scurvy is making a comeback due to dietary compromises caused by rising costs of living and a lack of affordable vitamin C-rich foods. mushrooms.
In the human diet, 90% of vitamin C comes from citrus fruits and vegetables such as bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower and tomatoes. Heat processing can reduce the vitamin C content of food. It takes 40–90 days of persistent hypovitaminosis C to develop overt symptoms of scurvy, but clinical manifestations may appear within 30 days of vitamin C deficiency.
Based on materials from the 2022 study.
Where did the scurvy go?
Technically, scurvy never really went away. We just had enough tools at hand to contain it. And those at risk include people with alcoholism or eating disorders, patients who have undergone bariatric surgery, and the elderly. But researchers are concerned that this “Renaissance disease” is beginning to gain momentum.
In a paper published in July 2024, US researchers found that the number of cases of scurvy in children tripled between 2016 and 2020. And within that data, they found that people most at risk also had other health conditions, including obesity and autism spectrum disorder, as well as low socioeconomic status.
However, the good news is that scurvy is easy to treat and symptoms can be relieved in as little as 24 hours. But the medical team who treated the 51-year-old Australian adds that it is adequate awareness – among medical professionals and the general public – that will ultimately save lives. And understanding the importance of taking vitamin C will help prevent the need for medical intervention.
Treatment for scurvy involves supplementing with vitamin C. Children are advised to take 100 mg of ascorbic acid three times daily for one week, then once daily for several weeks until complete recovery. Adults are treated with 300–1000 mg of vitamin C per day for one month. The response to vitamin C supplementation is often overwhelming, as in our case. It is reported that even one replacement dose of vitamin C can stop gastrointestinal bleeding, and capillary stability is established within 24 hours. Other symptoms, such as skin lesions, may take up to two to three weeks to heal.
From research materials
Therefore, as I have always said, first of all, adequate nutrition, exercise and sleep. And then there’s the race for productivity. And it is food and sleep that should be cut last. Otherwise, the entire super-productive regime will go to the bottom.
Feel adequate, have a charged mood and be mentally healthy!
