To stay healthy and promote overall well-being you need certain nutrients, minerals, and necessary elements that enhance your body and keep you safe from radicals. These nutrients are also substantial for ensuring all bodily functions are running smoothly. Vitamins are such necessary nutrients that possess a huge role in one’s body.
Ranging from several types vitamin b12 is a vital nutrient responsible for several benefits such as forming red blood cells and DNA. It is also a crucial reason behind brain function development and the creation of nerve cells. This article is a simple but brief warning on how the deficiency of vitamin b12 affects your body its risk factors and when to seek medical attention.
vitamin B12 deficiency: What Are the symptoms?
First and foremost, let’s get to know the drawbacks of low vitamin b12 in the body. These range from several issues such as:
1. Fatigue and weaknesses
Despite proper rest and self-care low vitamin b12 in one’s body causes feeling tired and weak. The roles of B12 include the production of red blood cells which influences energy metabolism.
2. Pale or Jaundiced Skin
As the Vitamin B12 levels are low it results in several reactions in your body such as having pale-coloured skin like you’re affected with jaundice. The low red blood cells are the reason behind causing paleness and yellowish tint to the skin.
3. Dizziness or Shortness of breaths
With low B12 vitamins, you often feel dizzy or light-headed. These are followed by short breaths and the reason behind this is the poor production or insufficient red blood cells. The blood flow also plays a major role in carrying oxygen therefore low oxygen could be noticed by the shortness of breath.
4. Numbness or Tingling
Vitamin B12 deficiency causes nerve damage, leading to tingling sensations and numbness when staying intact for a while. These are mostly observed on the hands or feet of a person.
5. Change in mobility and balance
Another sign or drawback is the inability or difficulty in walking or balancing. The nerve damage might be the culprit making you unsteady and providing a persistent absence of vitamin B12.
6. Mouth ulcers and glossitis
Glossitis is a condition when inflammation is caused to the tongue, Mouth ulcers are another condition these are the signs that are caused due to B12 deficiency in oral areas.
7. Vision changes
Lack of vitamin b12 disturbs the vision with blurry sight or sensitivity to light. Nerve damage is also the reason behind the symptom due to low Vitamin b12,
8. Mood changes
The Lack of vitamin B12 also leads to mental problems such as changes in mood or emotions. It causes immediate mood swings making you helpless with mental clarity.
9. Cognitive issues
Memory problems unable to concentrate, and cognitive impairment are a few of the cognitive issues associated with vitamin B12 deficiency.
Lack of vitamin deficiency especially B12 causes a lot of troubles over the long run. Several factors contribute to this issue and if not taken action it might lead to catastrophic issues. The issues stretch to more than what we could involve in this article so stay informed and updated with all health, well-being, and sustainable living tips. Promote a good self-care routine to ease and stay clear of radicals.
Risk factor and Causes
Now let’s look at the risks and factors that are associated with low vitamin deficiency in B12
- Dietary factors: Those who have a vegetarian or vegan meal must ensure to consume less to no fortified foods which leads to deficiency of vitamin B12. Try to add many nutrients to your diet.
- Malabsorption issues: Certain conditions like pernicious anemia, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease or any surgery affect the digestive tract contributing to poor absorption of B12 vitamins.
- Age and Medications: A common and predictable issue aging and medication followed after for certain conditions are also likely to cause poor absorption of B12 vitamins. The use of metformin, inhibitors, or proton pumps for their respective purposes also belongs to the red flags category.
- Genetic Predisposition: In rare cases, genetic factors come into play for the absorption process or metabolism resulting in lowering the amount of vitamin B12.
Seeking medical Attention
You need to understand when to seek medical attention as all the problems aren’t related to low vitamin b12. Perform diagnosing tests such as blood tests helps you have an insight into B12 levels within your body. Tests like homocysteine and methylmalonic acid levels are also helpful to understand the vitamin B12 levels within your body. The doctors might recommend Vitamin B12 Foods, and supplements as a treatment either orally or by using injections depending on how serious your conditions are along with considering any underlying issues.
Conclusion
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of low Vitamin B12 levels with the signs or symptoms mentioned below is crucial to determining the health of a person and to taking necessary safety measures or self-care. Understanding and knowing the right thing to do will enhance your health and well-being.
Once you realize the risks it is important to seek medical valuation to keep you safe and for the doctor to early detection for diseases or health conditions to suggest the best course. Always remember a healthy lifestyle and diet accompanied by being physically active and taking care of your mental health. Take action before any serious signs to stay healthy over the long run and live in goodwill.
References
- Röhrig G, Gütgemann I, Kolb G, Leischker A. [Clinical hematological symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency in old age : Summarized overview of this year’s symposium of the Working Group “Anemia in the Aged” on the occasion of the annual conference of the German Geriatric Society (DGG) in Frankfurt]. Z Gerontol Geriatr. 2018 Jun;51(4):446-452. [PubMed]
- Layden AJ, Täse K, Finkelstein JL. Neglected tropical diseases and vitamin B12: a review of the current evidence. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2018 Oct 01;112(10):423-435. [PMC free article]
