Vitamin B12 deficiency – the strange feeling in your feet that you should never ignore

Vitamin B12 is a crucial ingredient for the healthy running of the body, as it’s needed to make red blood cells. Signs of a deficiency can develop very slowly, so it may be difficult to diagnose the condition.

People with undiagnosed symptoms should consider that they may have a vitamin B12 deficiency.

While it’s unlikely that your symptoms are caused by the condition, there are still many people that have a lack of B12.

A quick blood test could reveal whether you should be adding more B12 to your diet.

You could be at risk of a vitamin B12 deficiency if you develop unexplained pins and needles.

Persistent pins and needles may be linked to changes in your nerve connections.

A vitamin B12 deficiency may cause these changes, in a condition known as vitamin B12 neuropathy.

The sensation, which may feel like a constant numbness in your feet, can be quite painful.

Your pins and needles aren’t necessarily caused by a B12 deficiency, but you should still speak to a doctor if the feeling won’t go away, urged Bupa.

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“As well as the symptoms of anaemia, vitamin B12 deficiency may cause symptoms related to your nerves,” it said.

“This is called vitamin B12 neuropathy. It may affect your movement and sensation, especially in your legs, cause numbness or pins and needles and decrease your sensitivity to touch, vibration or pain.

“It can also cause confusion, depression, poor concentration and forgetfulness – symptoms that can mimic dementia.

“These symptoms aren’t always due to vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia, but if you have them see your GP.”

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Meanwhile, you could also be at risk of a vitamin B12 deficiency if you develop a sharp, stabbing pains in the palm of your hands.

The pain tends to occur suddenly, without any prior warning.

It usually affects the spot just below the ring finger, around where the palm crease lies, it said.

Left untreated, this pain can start to move toward the outside edge of the hand, stemming from the wrist.

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Other, more common warning signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency include tiredness, jaundice, and feeling dizzy.

You should speak to a doctor if you’re worried about vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms.

But you can top up on the vitamin by eating certain foods.

The best sources of vitamin B12 include beef, liver, dairy foods, eggs, and salmon.

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