How do i know if my vitamin b12 is low?

Are you feeling sluggish? Have trouble breathing? A general sense of malaise that just won’t go away no matter how much coffee you chug down your gullet? Then there’s a good chance that it could be because of low vitamin B12 levels.

But how do you know for sure? Here are some signs and symptoms to look out for:

Pale skin

If people are commenting on the fact that your skin looks like freshly fallen snow, then it might be time to reassess your vitamin intake. Pale or yellowish skin can indicate anemia – which is often associated with vitamin B12 deficiency.

Fatigue And/Or Weakness

This one might seem almost too obvious, but if you’re constantly tired (and we mean unable-to-get-out-of-bed kind of drained) even when getting plenty of sleep, then it could be due to low iron and/or vitamin B12 levels.

Shortness Of Breath

Another sign worth noting is shortness of breath. This happens during physical activity as well as while at rest. It occurs because there’s not enough oxygen being transported throughout the body to keep up with its needs.

please note: If sudden shortness occurs please seek medical attention immediately

Tingling Sensations In Fingers And Toes

We’ve all experienced pins and needles every now-and-again – but if those feelings persist without any clear cause (like sleeping awkwardly on a limb), this could point to something more worrisome than an uncomfortable numb hulk-like appendage morphing moment: nerve damage due to prolonged absence of adequate amounts of Vitamin-B12 in their food intake.

Try flexing and relaxing these affected areas periodically each day till sensations cease 🙂

That being said — sometimes these tingling sensations appear regardless so don’t bend yourself outta shape thinking something’s wrong if ya feel a slight occasional numbness!

Impaired Vision

A B12 deficiency can cause blurred or distorted vision. If you notice any changes in your eyesight that persist for more than a few days, it’s best to get checked out by an ophthalmologist.

Memory Loss And Confusion

Feeling like you’re losing your mind? Uep, it is possibly another sign that tells us things have gotten dire in terms of vitamin overdose. Low Vitamin-B12 levels may cause cognitive dysfunction and memory loss.

Just remind yourself about the feeling when you forget something important because could seem ‘safe’ at the time (very convenient), but eventually these frustrations may multiply into bigger issues!

Swollen Tongue

This one might come as a surprise – but if your tongue swells up and feels sore, then it just needs some Vitamin B12 supplements.

If left untreated this condition subtlety known as “glossitis” could lead way for mouth ulcers too!

Don’t worry — even Popeye got his fill of spinach he didn’t want before being pope’y looking 🙂 You can opt for patches or injections instead of chewing off bulky veggies which work wonders!!

Here are other diseases/conditions closely associated with low Vitamin-B12:

• Crohn’s disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Pernicious Anaemia
• Diabetes

Therefore making sure food sources rich in these necessary vitamins especially ^$#&% green leafy vegetables; The change starts here!

Ok so now we know what signs to look out for. What should we do next?

Diagnosis: Confirming Your Suspicions

So first let’s check if there really is something up on the Vitamin front! Here’s how:

Blood Test

The quickest way to confirm whether or not you are deficient in B12 is through Blood tests . Blood samples make the diagnostic process as quickly and easily as possible. Your doctor will likely ask for this examination from either a laboratory technician or nurse.

In any case, when getting these tests done remember to inform your medical-professional about your symptoms, dieting habits and ongoing medications (to understand how that might complicate things) which could help to deduce viable conclusions!

Physical Examination

A doctor can usually tell if someone has low vitamin B12 by looking at their physical appearances and nutritional history during consultation. Examining oral cavities signs of glossitis (swelling tongue), paleness in skin/hair texture — all these signs provide good clues on the underlying malnutrition – but examining them together with both blood test outcomes would be advantageous and more holistic approach towards conclusion-making 😉

Treatment & Prevention

Once confirmed natural processes for curing Vitamin-B12 deficiency are:

• Consuming Vitamin-B12 supplements tablets/tablets
• Eating meals rich in fresh/frozen fruits or vegetables 🥕🍆🌽ect.
• Ensuring you have protein-rich(dude-friendly too!!) edibles eg:
• meat, poultry
• fish such is salmon’s loaded with iron!

Preventative measures include tweaking dietary intake preferences following food recommendations like the chart below:

Food Category	Serving Size	B-12 Content
Milk Alternatives(Fortified)	1 cup/240ml	0.9 mcg /serving
Mussels	Mussels per pound(16 pieces)	20mcg/pound(16 pieces)
Raisin Bran Cereal/Breakfast Bars(Some Brands Are Fortfied) (”No-To-Meat Option!”)	Per package/serving size (Consult Label For MG Nutrition Counts)	As high As 6mcg/serving
(Low-Fat/Low Sodium/Unsalted)Cheese	1 oz/45grams	0.9 to 1.5 mcg
(White Button)Mushrooms	100grams/serving size	0.5mcg

Summary:
The signs of vitamin B12 deficiency might vary, from fatigue and weakness to tingling sensations in fingers or toes; but swollen tongue is always a sign! Following the relevant diagnostic procedures can provide accurate conclusions towards any deficiencies one may be experiencing 😉

However, making slight adjustments to your diet and ensuring you consume sufficient amounts of such vital vitamins regardless could prevent future occurrences too!!