Vitamin B12 plays a number of important roles in the body and these roles are responsible for both physical and mental processes. Takes its role in supporting the nervous system. The nervous system sends signals between the brain and the rest of the body, including internal organs.
Constant fatigue is one of the main symptoms of a B12 deficiency, because when this vitamin is low, the body has fewer red blood cells.
The primary function of the red blood cells is to transport oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body.
Lack of red blood cells can lead to fatigue.
This is why, no matter how much sleep you get, if there are not enough cells running through your body, then you will still spend the day exhausted.
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Feeling extremely tired or weak is one of the most common warning signs of the condition, says the medical website Healthline.
If you have a vitamin B12 deficiency, your body may struggle to make new red blood cells.
Red blood cells are the key to the delivery of oxygen in the body.
If you do not have enough oxygen in your cells, you can generally feel tired or degenerate.
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A lack of B12 can also lead to fewer red blood cells being made and can cause nerve damage.
If the condition is left untreated for a long time, it can be a risk for heart problems.
To prevent complications, it is important to recognize all the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, and one symptom to note is a change in breathing.
Experts say shortness of breath, even after a little exercise, can be a sign of the condition.
According to a case report from the Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital published in The New England Journal of Medicine, a 62-year-old man who is deficient in vitamin B12 has gradually become short of breath.
Breathing can occur if there are no red blood cells in the body, because it is necessary to get enough oxygen in the cells of the body.
Advocacy for thyroid patients explains that shortness of breath can occur without chest pain and adds that it can happen if you walk just a few meters.
A blood test is usually ordered to look for a vitamin B12 deficiency, which can also measure the size of the red blood cells in the body.
This factor is important as vitamin B12 helps to create healthy shaped red blood cells.
Insufficient amounts of vitamins in the body can lead to abnormally large red blood cells.
However, a blood test has limitations – it can measure the amount of vitamin B12 in the body, but can not determine if the body can use it.