How Do I Know If I’m Vitamin B Deficient?
Vitamin B deficiency causes a number of obvious signs and symptoms, and others that are apparent during lab tests. For some patients, the symptoms begin gradually and get worse over time. For others, such as the case outlined above, symptoms have a rapid and severe onset. If you develop any of the symptoms below, you should make an appointment with your physician, who can conduct blood tests to determine your vitamin B12 level and rule out other common causes for the condition. Because this form of vitamin deficiency often has a root cause (rather than being the result of a poor diet), it is important for the doctor to diagnose and treat the underlying condition as well.
● Megaloblastic Anemia: Patients who have low levels of vitamin B12 develop megaloblastic anemia, which is a condition that results in red blood cells that are larger than normal. This type of anemia can also be caused by other factors, including a folate deficiency, so it’s important to have yourself tested to figure out why it's happening.
● Ataxia: Patients who are vitamin B deficient often develop ataxia, which is characterized by shaky limb movement and gait problems. Other patients may experience a loss of balance.
● Muscle Weakness/Spasticity: Muscle weakness is often a sign of vitamin B deficiency, as are stiff or rigid muscles, a condition called spasticity
● Hypotension: Low blood pressure, also called hypotension, is common in patients with this condition
● Cognitive Dysfunction: Patients with this condition may have difficulty concentrating, or may develop problems with thinking or reasoning. Other patients, especially those with a severe deficiency, may develop memory loss.