Vitamin B12 deficiency – the type of headache 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. But one of the most common warning signs of the condition are painful headaches.

People with undiagnosed symptoms should consider that they may have a vitamin B12 deficiency, according to charity Thyroid Patient Advocacy.

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.

One of the most peculiar signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency is developing headaches that are accompanied by changes to your vision.

The headaches may be preceded by a temporary blind spot in your vision, warned the charity.

Once the blind spot disappears, patients may continue to have zig-zag patterns in their vision for a number of hours.

The headaches themselves can vary from severe pain, to almost non-existent.

If you think you may have a vitamin B12 deficiency, you should consider speaking to a doctor.

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“If you have any unusual undiagnosed symptoms, perhaps you should consider whether you have a vitamin B12 deficiency. Chances are you don’t, but many people do,” it said.

“The symptoms often come on so slowly that a B12-deficient individual may become accustomed to them, and not complain until the symptoms become severe.

“Migraine headaches – these may be preceded by a temporary blind spot in the center of the field of vision, usually lasting about 10 minutes, and sometimes followed by facial pain under the eyes.

“Even in the same person, there may be extreme variations in the headaches themselves. They may be quite severe with nausea or they may be virtually nonexistent.”

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Meanwhile, you could also be at risk of a vitamin B12 deficiency if you develop 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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