Warning Signs Linked To A Vitamin E Deficiency

Dysarthria

Dysarthria is a condition in which patients experience difficulty with speech. The condition develops due to weaknesses in the muscles that are required for speech and to the body's inability to control these muscles. Individuals with dysarthria often display slurred or slow speech that could be difficult for others to understand, and their speech may have a nasal or strained quality. The condition could also cause the patient to speak at an uneven volume. For example, some patients are unable to speak at volumes above a whisper, and other patients speak at excessively loud volumes.

To assess speech difficulties, doctors typically perform blood tests, and imaging studies such as CT scans and MRI scans may be requested. Some patients might need to have nerve conduction studies or an electroencephalogram (EEG), and tests of the patient's cognitive abilities will be performed as well. Speech therapy is the primary treatment for dysarthria, and it focuses on strengthening muscles and improving the articulation of words and sounds. Dysarthria may improve once the vitamin E deficiency is corrected.

Hemolytic Anemia

Hemolysis is the process by which the body destroys old or damaged red blood cells. In patients with hemolytic anemia, this process takes place too frequently, causing a low red blood cell count. Patients could experience heart palpitations, dizziness, headaches, and fatigue. If left untreated, patients could develop severe symptoms such as chills, fever, abdominal pain, and shock. They might also experience complications, including an irregular heartbeat or enlargement of the heart.

Hemolytic anemia can be detected with blood tests, and lifestyle changes and medications could be sufficient for treatment. Patients with serious cases of hemolytic anemia may need blood transfusions as well. In individuals with vitamin E deficiency, supplementation may help reverse symptoms of hemolytic anemia, and patients will be closely monitored with regular blood tests throughout their entire treatment period.