According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 4% of the women between the ages of 40 and 60 suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency. So is B12 vitamin that critical for the body? Yes, it is.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause serious health issues as it is required to make red blood cells, nerve development, DNA, and various other bodily functions. Apart from age, various other factors such as certain common medications and lack of meat intake lead to vitamin B12 deficiency.
You all will agree that diagnosing a problem is the crucial step to finding a solution. So it’s vital for everyone out there, especially all you ladies in your 30s, to be well aware of the symptoms of B12 deficiency. Given here are some of the common early symptoms that might warn you of the deficiency.
1. Dizziness
Frequent episodes of dizziness/vertigo and a wobbly feeling are a common symptom of B12 deficiency. Often, we dismiss the wobbly feeling when we stand up after sitting for too long as “head rush”. However, with age, the constant dizzy feeling might point to something major, which in this case might be vitamin B12 deficiency.
2. Pins And Needles Sensation
It is common to feel the “pins and needles” type of sensation if you compress any body part for too long. However, if you feel this sensation without the compression, you might be suffering from B12 deficiency. Numbness and electric shock waves are also common symptoms. This uncomfortable feeling is a result of nerve damage caused due to less oxygen levels in the cells.
3. Complexion
Vitamin B12 largely aids in red blood cell production, and its deficiency results in less RBCs, which in turn result in a pale complexion. The idea of vampires is beautiful, but let’s just keep that limited to books and movies.
4. Forgetfulness
You know that weird feeling when you are talking to someone on your cell phone and you are wondering at the back of your mind, “Where did I keep my cell phone?!” This is perfectly fine, but it can be alarming when you keep your car keys in the refrigerator or forget the names of your close friends.
If such instances are a frequent occurrence for you, don’t mistake them as signs of early dementia. These symptoms might be an indication of vitamin B12 deficiency.
5. Constantly Tired Or Sleepy
Do you struggle to stay awake during afternoons even after 8 hours of sleep? If you are suffering from chronic fatigues, it can be a symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency. Due to less RBCs in blood, your cells struggle to receive enough oxygen, resulting in tiredness.
6. Muscle Weakness
Struggling to pick up the grocery bag or laundry? Often, we women ignore these symptoms as simple struggles of our busy daily lives. However, if these episodes of weakness are frequent, then it’s time to test your B12 levels.
7. Vision
Light sensitivity, spotting, and blurred or double vision are a few common vision issues experienced by people with vitamin B12 deficiency. In certain cases, it may even lead to optic nerve damage.
So if you observe even one of these symptoms, visit your doctor and get yourself checked for vitamin B12 deficiency.
