Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is an essential vitamin that the body needs. However, the body does not produce its own vitamin B12, so people are advised to get it from animal-based foods or supplements.
When the body does not get enough vitamin B12, they experience symptoms of vitamin deficiency. These symptoms mainly point to nerve problems like numbness or tingling.
Meanwhile, lesser-known symptoms are also found in the face, especially with the eyes. This symptom is the unusual nerve problem known as blepharospasm.
Blepharospasm: A Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptom in the Eye
The medical term for the uncomfortable eye twitching or eyelid twitching is eyelid myokymia or blepharospasms. According to Express, the most common form of eyelid twitching is when the lower eyelid of one ye starts to jump, flicker, or quiver uncontrollably every few seconds or minutes. Although sometimes, the upper eyelid also twitches rather than the lower eyelid.
People with blepharospasm have both eyes affected, but not usually at the same time. This condition is considered rare by medical experts. The twitching is caused by a muscle spasm around the eye and could sometimes be misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all as it shares similar characteristics with a range of other problems.
For serious reasons, the twitching could also be associated with dry eyes and Tourette's syndrome. Many cases of blepharospasm occur spontaneously with no apparent cause. Men and women can both be affected by this condition. But for many cases, middle-aged and older women appear to be more prone to blepharospasm.
According to Better Health Channel, very severe cases of the condition could lead to blindness because the muscular spasms force the eyelids to shut for long periods. This could make the person with blepharospasm quit activities, like sports, driving, or socializing, for fear of permanently losing their eyesight.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition. Treatment could include paralyzing the eyelid muscles with botulinum toxin. While patients may also opt for surgery as a last resort.
Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Age could be a factor in getting enough vitamin B12 as it is harder to absorb the vitamin as the person ages. But so does having weight loss surgery or other operations that removed a part of the stomach.
According to WebMD, symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency could include anemia, while milder forms may have no symptoms. However, if left untreated, it could lead to weakness, tiredness, heart palpitations, pale skin, constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nerve problems, muscle weakness, problems in walking, vision loss, depression, memory loss, and behavioral changes.
For most people, vitamin B12 deficiency can be treated with more vitamin B12 intake. However, nerve damage is harder to reverse, as most often, it becomes a permanent condition.
How to Get Enough Vitamin B12?
For people with pernicious anemia who have trouble absorbing vitamin B12, they could get vitamin shots and keep taking high doses of a vitamin B12 supplement by mouth or through the nose.
More so, for those who do not eat animal-based foods, they could change their diet to vitamin B12-fortified grains, or a daily supplement of the vitamin, especially for older adults. They may also take multivitamins that contain vitamin B12.
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