Page 16 - Florida Sentinel 11-30-18

Health
Weakness
Your mus-
cles may lack
strength. You
also might feel
tired or light-
headed. Your
doctor can
check how
much B12 is in
your body, but
not all of it may be useable. So it’s important to pay attention to any symptoms -- which can grow slowly or pop up more quickly -- and to alert your doctor.
Heart Palpitations
This is
when your
heart sud-
denly races or
skips a beat.
You might feel
it in your
throat or neck.
You can get
more vitamin
B12 from chicken, eggs, and fish. But one of best sources by far is something that may not be a regular on your menu: beef liver.
Mouth Sores
You may
get these ul-
cers on your
gums or
tongue. They
could be a sign
of low B12,
anemia, or an-
other condi-
tion. The sores
usually clear up on their own, but it helps to avoid ingredients that might be irritating or painful, like vinegar, citrus, and hot spices like chili powder. Some over-the-counter medicines could soothe your pain.
SmoothTongue
Your doc-
tor might call
it atrophic
glossitis. Tiny
bumps on
your tongue
called papillae
start to waste
away. That
makes it look
and feel kind of smooth and glossy. Infections, medication, and other conditions can cause it, too. But if not enough B12 or other nutrients is to blame, your tongue also may be sore.
You’re Colder Than Usual
Without enough B12, you might not have enough healthy red blood cells to move oxygen around your body (ane- mia). That can leave you shivering and cold, espe- cially in your hands and feet.
Brain Fog
A lack of B12 may lead to depres- sion, confusion, memory problems, and dementia. It also can affect your balance. B12 sup- plements are usu- ally safe. For adults, doctors rec-
ommend 2.4 micrograms a day. If you take more than what you need, your body passes the rest out through your pee. Still, high doses could have some side effects, like dizziness, headache, anxiety, nausea, and vomiting.
Digestive Woes
You might
lose your ap-
petite, drop too
much weight, or
have trouble
pooping (consti-
pation). If your
B12 levels are
low, your doctor
will often inject it
into a muscle to be sure your body absorbs it. Sometimes, high doses of pills work just as well. But remember that symptoms of B12 deficiency can be similar to signs of many other illnesses.
PAGE 4-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2018