Contents:
- Medical Video: Anemia - Causes, Symptoms, Treatments & More…
- Symptoms of anemia
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Folate deficiency
- When to see a doctor
- Further problems
Medical Video: Anemia - Causes, Symptoms, Treatments & More…
Anemia related to a deficiency of vitamin B12 or B9 (commonly called folate) occurs when a deficiency of vitamin B12 or folic acid causes the body to produce normal red blood cells that are larger and cannot function properly.
Anemia related to vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency can cause various symptoms. This condition usually develops gradually at first and can worsen if the condition is not treated.
You should see your doctor if you think you might have vitamin B12 or folate deficiency. This condition can be diagnosed based on symptoms and blood test results.
Anemia related to vitamin B12 deviation or folate deficiency is important to diagnose and treat as soon as possible because although many of the symptoms will improve with treatment, some problems caused by this condition cannot be cured.
Symptoms of anemia
The common symptoms of anemia, where you have fewer red cells than usual or you have a abnormally low number of hemoglobin cells in each red blood cell, include:
- fatigue
- lack of energy (lethargy)
- hard to breathe
- feeling faint
- headache
- pale skin
- fast heartbeat (palpitations)
- hearing sounds from inside the body and not from outside sources (tinnitus)
- loss of appetite and weight loss
Vitamin B12 deficiency
If you have anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency, you may have other symptoms besides those listed above, such as:
- pale yellow on your skin
- sore tongue and red (glossitis)
- sprue
- paresthesia
- changes in the way you walk and move
- impaired vision
- irritability
- depression
- changes in the way you think, feel and behave
- decrease in your mental abilities, such as memory, understanding and judgment (dementia)
Some of these symptoms can also occur in people who have vitamin B12 deficiency, but have not yet experienced anemia.
Folate deficiency
Additional symptoms in people with anemia caused by folate deficiency can include:
- numbness and tingling in the legs and arms
- muscle weakness
- depression
When to see a doctor
If you suspect that you have anemia due to a vitamin deficiency, you can check with your family doctor or general practitioner. However, in some cases, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in treating blood disorders (hematology).
Further problems
Although rare, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency (with or without anemia) can lead to complications, especially if you have been deficient in vitamin B12 or folic acid for some time.
Potential complications can include nervous system problems, transient infertility, heart problems, pregnancy complications and birth defects.
Some complications will improve with proper treatment, but other complications - such as problems with the nervous system - can be permanent.
