Page 43 - Seniors Today -April20
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Signs you are low on B12: progress, you may experience changes in
Pale skin – Your body requires B12 to your coordination, balance and movement.
produce red blood cells. Without B12 red Shortness of Breath – This occurs when the
blood cells become fragile – they cannot body is unable to transport enough oxygen
leave the bone marrow where they are to all its cells.
produced to circulate the blood. This lack of Smooth tongue – Glossitis, the
red blood cells make the skin to appear pale. inflammation of the tongue, can cause it
Feeling weak and fatigued – When your to change colour, feel painful and swell,
body can’t produce enough healthy blood stretching out your taste buds and making
cells to carry oxygen around your body, you them feel smooth. This can be an early
feel weak and fatigued. symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency.
Pins-and-needles sensation – Myelin is a Change in vision – If vitamin B12 deficiency
fatty substance that surrounds your nerves, causes damage to the optic nerve, it may
protecting and insulating them. Vitamin B12 result in blurry or impaired vision. This is
is essential for its production, so without known as optic neuropathy.
it the nerves and nervous system struggle Depression – Low levels of vitamin
to function properly. This may result in the B12 have been linked to mood changes,
feeling of pins and needles – though it is including depression and a decline in
rarely associated with B12 deficiency alone. brain function. Fortunately, the use of
Decline in balance and mobility – If supplements may help reverse damage in
damage to the nervous system is allowed to some patients.
Vitamin B12 is essential for brain, nerves and production of red blood cells
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #10 | APRIL 2020 43
