Too many people today have a vitamin deficiency and are unaware. Instead, they often attribute the symptoms to the stress of everyday life. Luckily, a vitamin deficiency is relatively easy to diagnose and there are many treatments available. If you have any of the following symptoms, then you may have a vitamin deficiency –
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Pale or yellowish skin
- Irregular heartbeats
- Weight loss
- Numbness or tingling in your hands and feet
- Muscle weakness
- Personality changes
- Unsteady movements
- Mental confusion or forgetfulness
According to The Mayo Clinic website, vitamin deficiencies usually develop slowly over several months to years. Vitamin deficiency symptoms may be subtle at first, but they increase as the deficiency worsens.
What is a vitamin deficiency and what causes it? A vitamin deficiency is a lack of healthy red blood cells caused by lower than normal amounts of certain vitamins. These vitamins include vitamin B-12, folate (also known as vitamin B-9), and vitamin C. A lack of vitamin D can also cause symptoms. If you don’t get enough of these vitamins in your diet or if your body has trouble processing or absorbing these vitamins, you may end up with a vitamin deficiency and the accompanying symptoms.
It is important to have a medical professional diagnose you because an iron deficiency and certain blood diseases can also cause these symptoms. Vitamin deficiencies can usually be corrected with changes in diet and vitamin supplements.
Folate is found in fruit and leafy green vegetables, while B-12 is found in milk, eggs, and meat. Vitamin C is found in many citrus fruits and vitamin D is found in fatty fish, cheese, and egg yolks. Unfortunately, many people’s diets are lacking and/or their body may have trouble absorbing these vitamins. A lack of vitamin B could lead to neurological problems like tingling in your hands and feet, or in severe cases of vitamin C deficiency even scurvy. Lack of vitamin D may result in a weakened immune system and depression. If changes in your diet don’t help quickly enough, you may want to consider injections or IV (intravenous) vitamin therapy.
It is important to use a reputable medical professional if you are considering injections or IV. The injections or IV solution should be tailored specifically to your needs as the treatments are not “one size fits all”. Also, since research is constantly finding new information and causes for many symptoms, you want to make sure that the healthcare givers you are seeing are up to date on the latest findings and well educated.
If you have been diagnosed with a vitamin deficiency and you want to start feeling better quickly, then an injection or IV may be the solution. Of course a well-balanced diet and exercise are an important start as is working with a reputable medical team but an injection or an IV may be the solution you need to help you regain your energy and health sooner.