'I have low vitamin B12 levels and the signs were hard to ignore - the condition changed my skin tone and speech'
Low B12 levels is a common problem in the UK
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Vitamin deficiencies are notoriously inconspicuous conditions, yet they have the potential to cause significant harm when left unchecked.
The rise in vitamin B12 deficiency cases reflects the growing popularity of vegetarianism across the nation, alongside medical conditions such as pernicious anaemia.
According to the NHS, pernicious anaemia, an autoimmune condition affecting the stomach, remains the leading cause of B12 deficiency in Britain.
“Pernicious anaemia is an autoimmune condition that affects your stomach,” the health body explains.
Chloe says she sounds like she's drunk when she's due an injection
TIKTOK / THESIMPLEMUM
While symptoms of the condition are wide-ranging, certain manifestations can be hard to ignore.
A TikTok user recently shared her experience with B12 deficiency symptoms after noticing the condition's impact on speech and cognition.
Chloe Faraway spotted significant changes in her speech patterns as she approached her scheduled B12 injection appointment.
As the timing of her symptoms aligned with her routine treatment schedule, she decided to share her experience with viewers online.
"I talk like I'm drunk, or high or exhausted," Faraway explained in her video. "I slur my words, I can't put words together, they come out all jumbly."
She also described significant memory problems, noting: "I forget everything and I'm usually so good and remembering stuff."
Chloe revealed she also notices changes in the tone of her skin when she's due an injection.
"One of the symptoms is pale and yellow skin. I get terrible skin when I’m due a B12 [injection], it does go pale and look lifeless," she noted.
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Neurological complications are a common manifestation of vitamin B12 deficiency, affecting speech and coordination.
Patients often report difficulty in articulating words which can lead to slurred and uncoordinated speech patterns.
These symptoms stem from damage to the nerves responsible for controlling mouth and tongue movements, impacting the rhythm and fluency of speech.
Experts stress that it's imperative to get vitamin B12 levels checked when any of these symptoms emerge.
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