Wednesday 8 January 2014

Vitamin B12 Deficiency And How To Prevent It

Vitamin B12 is an extremely important substance needed for the production and formation of red blood cells in the body. It is vital in order to maintain the function of the nervous system and other vital organs in our body. The lack of Vitamin B12 in the body is called Vitamin B12 deficiency. If left untreated, it could lead to anemia which can then cause brain damage.

What are the signs of Vitamin B12 deficiency?
Signs of Vitamin B12 deficiency may include lethargy, muscle weakness, constant headaches, difficulty in breathing, light headedness, loss appetite, mood swings, irritability and memory loss.

What causes Vitamin B12 deficiency?
Health experts have identified 3 most common causes of Vitamin B12 which include old age, having a family history of Vitamin B12 deficiency, not eating meat products or food rich in Vitamin B12. Health experts have determined that many vegetarians today are prone to have Vitamin B12 deficiency because of their diet regimen which mainly comprises of vegetables and fruit with no meat products which is one of the major sources of Vitamin B12.

How is Vitamin B12 treated?
Once you are diagnosed with Vitamin B12 deficiency, it is important that you have a regular session of Vitamin B12 injections. This will be advised to you by your physician depending on the amount of dosage you should get. However, for severe anemia, the Vitamin B12 injections may be advised to be taken for life. Also, many health experts recommend a modification in the diet wherein more food rich in Vitamin B12 will be introduced.

Can Vitamin B12 deficiency be prevented?
Yes. The best way to prevent it is to make sure that you get the right amount of Vitamin B12 from the food you eat or by taking Vitamin B12 supplements as well. Moreover, it is recommended that if you have a member in you family who is Vitamin B12 deficient, then make sure you that you undergo a physical check-up yourself just to be sure that you are not Vitamin B12 deficient as well.

What to watch out for!
In case that you are diagnosed to have a less production of Vitamin B12 in your body, make sure that you watch out for various signs of anemia such as the signs and symptoms enumerated above. As much as possible, try to have a healthy eating habit and a healthy workout regimen in order to keep you body active always.

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