Page 20 - Florida Sentinel 4-1-22

Health
HEART PALPITATIONS
WEAKNESS
Like the other B vitamins, B12 has a myriad of roles within the body. These include releasing energy from the food we eat and preventing tiredness and fatigue. Your body doesn't make vitamin B12. That means you need to get it from food or supplements. Explore why this nutrient is needed, the best sources and the signs you're not getting enough.
NUMBNESS
Do your hands, feet, or legs feel like they’re on “pins and needles”? Shortage of B12 can damage the protective sheath that covers your nerves. Diseases like celiac, Crohn’s, or other gut illnesses may make it harder for your body to ab- sorb the vitamin. So can taking some heartburn drugs.
BRAIN FOG
A lack of B12 may lead to de- pression, confusion, memory problems, and dementia. It also can affect your balance. B12 sup- plements are usually safe. For adults, doctors recommend 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 dizzi- ness, headache, anxiety, nausea, and vomiting.
This is when your heart suddenly 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.
DIGESTIVE WOES
You might lose your appetite, drop too much weight, or have trouble pooping (constipation). If your B12 levels are low, your doc- tor will often inject it into a mus- cle 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.
Your muscles may lack strength. You also might feel tired or lightheaded. Your doctor can check how much B12 is in your body, but not all of it may be use- able. So it’s important to pay at- tention to any symptoms -- which can grow slowly or pop up more quickly -- and to alert your doc- tor.
MEDICATIONS
Some drugs drop your B12 levels or make it harder for your body to use the vitamin. They in- clude:
- Chloramphenicol, an antibi- otic used to treat infection
- Proton pump inhibitors like lansoprazole (Prevacid) and omeprazole (Prilosec)
- Peptic ulcer meds like cime- tidine (Tagamet) and famotidine (Pepcid)
- Metformin for diabetes.
Tell your doctor and pharma- cist about all drugs and supple- ments you take.
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