Overview
What's really fascinating is that your body can be a very good messenger when something needs to change. The only issue really is that most of us are just so terrible at paying attention. For instance, vitamin deficiencies don't usually show themselves through a series of highly noticeable symptoms. Rather, they sneak up on you gradually and hide themselves in things like tiredness, pressure, or even the feeling of being rundown from an endless schedule. The unfortunate thing is, sometimes deficiencies already hurt you before you even become aware of them.
Fatigue That Sleep Can't Fix
We all experience periods of tiredness. However, there's a distinct form of fatigue that does not get any better even after getting through one full night's sleep, and this kind of fatigue usually suggests that a person lacks either iron or vitamin B12. Iron-deficiency anemia among other things is considered the most prevalent nutritional deficiency on a global scale. You may be experiencing a constant, heavy fatigue that feels like it's in your bones when the level of iron in your body is low to the point that it is affecting hemoglobin production (that carries oxygen into the cells). On the other hand, vitamin B12 deficiency also leads to a very similar manifestation.
The body uses B12 for the production of red blood cells. When the B12 is absent, a person may develop megaloblastic anemia where the red blood cells are abnormally huge and inefficient. The reason why vegetarians and vegans can be more endangered is that, to a large extent, vitamin B12 is found in animal products only. A blood test could easily figure out if a deficiency is the reason you have been experiencing fatigue for weeks without any clear cause. One instance where health insurance is very critical is that with routine checkups, blood panels can detect such problems quite early and prevent them from turning into anything worse.
Mouth Sores, Cracked Lips, and Bleeding Gums
One of the early signs of vitamin deficiency that appears visually is often in the mouth area. Angular cheilitis, i.e., those painful cracks at the corners of the mouth, is commonly associated with a deficiency of B-group vitamins, mainly B2 (riboflavin) and B6. Chronic mouth ulcers can be another indicator of lack of iron or B12.
Bleeding gums are mostly attributed to lack of brushing, and many times that is indeed the case. Nevertheless, bleeding gums that persist, especially if this is accompanied by slow wounds healing and easy bruising, may be a sign of vitamin C deficiency. While full-blown scurvy is almost unheard of in developed countries, subclinical vitamin C deficiency is actually quite prevalent and especially so among people whose diet is largely lacking in fruits and vegetables. Although the solution is quite simple, it is just a matter of identifying the symptom as caused by this deficiency.
Hair Loss and Brittle Nails
It's perfectly natural to lose some hair on a day-to-day basis. But hair coming out by the root in large clumps definitely isn't something to dismiss.
Though genetics and hormonal changes are among the many potential reasons for hair loss, nutritional deficiencies are an overlooked cause. Iron deficiency is arguably the leading nutritional cause of hair loss, especially among women of reproductive age.
Biotin (vitamin B7) deficiency is also a factor. Yet, it is rare to find people with true biotin deficiency since a balanced diet provides biotin easily.Brittle nails that crack easily and have a spoon shape are signs of iron deficiency. White spots on nails are usually associated with a deficiency in zinc, however the strength of the evidence that it is zinc exactly is not as clear-cut as popular health advice suggests.
It's clear what has been shown that being constantly in a state of zinc deficiency has an adverse impact on wound healing and immune system functioning, which are things that cannot be easily perceived but can have far reaching consequences.
Bone Pain and Muscle Weakness
Vitamin D deficiency requires a separate conversation, primarily since it is very common. Your skin synthesizes vitamin D when your skin is exposed to the sun. However, those who reside in northern regions, work indoors, or are people of color can be among those who don't create enough vitamin D through their skin. Deficiency of vitamin D not only can lead to discomfort in bones (especially in the lower back and leg) but also to weakness in your muscles that renders it difficult to climb stairs or to get up from the chair.
When vitamin D deficiency is really serious and continues for a while, it causes osteomalacia in grown-ups, a condition that makes your bones less hard and puts you at greater risk for breaking bones. This condition is different from osteoporosis but it is also very dangerous. Although supplements are very helpful and safe for most people, the right amount is not always the same and, therefore, you may get the blood levels of vitamin D measured before starting to take the mega doses.
If you are diagnosed with a condition such as osteomalacia for which a long term and ongoing treatment is needed, the critical illness insurance could be an excellent source of financial protection that covers in addition to the one offered by the standard insurance policies, particularly considering the chronic feature of bone-related disorders.
Tingling and Numbness in Hands and Feet
A thing like this could seriously disturb you. Peripheral neuropathy, that tingling or numbness you may feel in the feet and hands can come from years of having insufficient B12. B12 plays a role in the formation and the maintenance of the protective myelin coating of the nerves. If there is shortage of B12, damage begins to appear in the nerves and can even get so bad that the damage never recovers.
People over the age of 50 are more likely to become deficient in B12 because as they age, the stomach becomes less efficient at making the hydrochloric acid that allows the body to extract B12 from the food that they eat. Also, those people who are using metformin for their type 2 diabetes or long term use of proton pump inhibitors (for the reduction of acid) are also at a heightened risk.
If the sensation in your toes and fingers that you described lasts for longer than your regular activity would explain, don't just blame poor circulation. Get some lab work done and see what's up.
Paying Attention Pays Off
None of these signs mean you automatically have a vitamin deficiency. Most of the conditions that lead to these signs can come from completely different causes. But this also means that signs are easily dismissed and the real causes can go unnoticed for years before diagnosis. Getting a test at a lab is both cheap and quick but the price you'll pay for continuing to ignore the problem could be the most expensive one, not only monetarily but your health-wise too. The body has to say something? At the very least, we can respond and hear what it says.
