15 Telltale Signs of B12 Deficiency That You Shouldn't Ignore

Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is one of the eight vitamins of the B-complex. Its deficiency, however, is not by any means a rare occurrence. That is especially the case with vegan, and vegetarian diet as B12 can only be found in animal products, such as meat, eggs, dairy, etc.

B12 deficiency can also be caused by gastrointestinal surgery, chronic alcoholism, Crohn's disease, and most notably pernicious anemia.

With all this in mind, let's talk about the symptoms, shall we? What follows is the list of 15 telltale signs of vitamin b12 deficiency that you should not ignore. So without further ado, let's get right into it.

1 Your muscle strength is not what it used to be

Whether you are working long hours, or you've just switched to a more challenging fitness routine that requires lifting heavier weights in your gym, it's perfectly normal for you to feel that your muscles are a bit weak from time to time.

But if you are having trouble performing the simplest of tasks such as carrying a backpack, or if bringing in the groceries feels like a nightmare, you could blame it on B12 vitamin deficiency and not on lack of protein as it is commonly believed. The reason for this is because your red blood cells are not receiving the right amount of oxygen which, of course, further leads to weakness in your muscles.

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2You suddenly get dizzy in certain situations

We have all gotten ourselves into situations when we are feeling dizzy during a sudden, movements. That is especially the case when climbing the stairs, or if we are quickly switching from a sitting to a standing position.

People often tend to associate dizziness with anemia, but B12 deficiency is also on top of the list, as it often goes hand in hand with anemia. Getting dizzy can also get quite dangerous, especially if you are climbing down the stairs. So if you are experiencing dizziness frequently, you should definitely talk to your doctor and check out your B12 level.

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3You are always tired, no matter how much sleep you get

Fatigue is, without a doubt, one of the most common symptoms of B12 deficiency. That comes as no surprise because if you lack B12 vitamin, then your body is having a hard time producing red blood cells which, as we all know, are absolutely necessary for spreading oxygen.

When you are feeling tired all the time, the first thing that comes to mind is, of course, lack of sleep. But if you are still tired despite getting a full 8 hours of sleep, then B12 deficiency could be the culprit.

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4You experience numbness and strange sensations in your body

Strange sensations, or so-called pins and needless, in your body, are the result of nerve damage which is the result of, you guessed it, low oxygen levels in cells, the product of B12 deficiency.

So next time you are feeling as if some kind of electric shock wave is streaming through your body after sitting cross-legged for a while, you should know that it probably has to do with your low B12 levels.

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5Shortness of breath

Shortness of breath is one of the telltale signs of pernicious anemia which is, as we mentioned above, caused by a B12 deficiency. That is because B12 contributes to the production of hemoglobin, the oxygen-transport protein in your bloodstream, and lack of it makes it more difficult for the blood to carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

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