Medical conditions related to an unbalanced diet free essay sample

Rickets is caused by a lack of vitamin D and calcium in a child’s diet. Both are needed for children to develop strong bones. Any child who does not get enough vitamin D or calcium can develop rickets. It is more common in children of Asian, African-Caribbean and Middle Eastern origin because their skin is darker and needs more sunlight to get enough vitamin D. Babies born prematurely are also at risk of developing rickets because babies build up stores of vitamin D while in the womb. Symptoms Fragile bones, poor growth and skeletal deformities can all lead to changed appearances. Rickets can be the cause of dental problems which can lead to loss of teeth and pain. Treatment Treatment for rickets includes eating more foods rich in calcium and vitamin D. Taking daily calcium and vitamin D supplements, having a vitamin D injection each year. These injections are only needed if the child cannot take supplements by mouth or suffers from intestinal or liver disease. We will write a custom essay sample on Medical conditions related to an unbalanced diet or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Increased amount of time your child spends outside will also help reduce rickets because the sun helps to produce Vitamin D. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should take a daily supplement of 10 micrograms of Vitamin D to ensure that adequate amounts are built up for early infancy How an unbalanced diet leads to the condition An unbalanced diet can lead to rickets because you won’t get enough nutrients that is needed to keep the body healthy. In this case it is Vitamin D Scurvy What is it? Scurvy is a rare condition cause from lack of Vitamin C within the body. Vitamin C is vital for the body. It is needed to make collagen which is a type of protein found in different types of tissue, such as skin, blood vessels, bones and cartilage. Without vitamin C collagen cant be replaced and the tissue breaks down leading to symptoms of scurvy Symptoms Scurvy can lead to muscle pain, joint pain and it can also cause tiredness. People who suffer from scurvy will experience red dots on the skin and bleeding and swelling of the gums Treatment Social workers who can help you to cook if your scurvy was caused by disability or you were not able to cook a healthy diet for yourself. Dieticians are also able to help you plan a healthy diet. A psychologist if your scurvy is associated with mental health or behavioural conditions for example such as depression, schizophrenia or anorexia nervosa. Scurvy can be prevented by making sure you have the correct amount of Vitamin C within your body. Fruits and vegetable are all a goods source of Vitamin C .