Disease Versus Vitamin Deficiency – When Symptoms Mask Serious Conditions

American former professional boxers Muhammad Ali once said, “Old age is just a record of one’s whole life.” That’s very true, and the diseases and disorders that we suffer from during old age are a direct reflection on how we lived our lives up to that point.

Regardless if we find ourselves suffering from poor memory or a leaky bladder, the symptoms are not always a sign of a big problem, like a cognitive issue or a neurological problem. It could be a sign of something much less serious.

For example, there are some symptoms that mimic disorders and diseases that may just be a sign of a vitamin deficiency that is easily remedied with supplements. That is why it is important to report all symptoms to the doctor who can order the necessary tests like blood work to rule out potential causes and find the real source of the problem.

The Dangers of Vitamin Deficiency

As people get older, their diets can become restricted due to things like heart disease, certain medications they are taking, or a disorder like diabetes or acid reflux disease. As people adjust their diets to accommodate living with a disorder or disease, they could be losing vital nutrients.

Once the body begins losing these vitamins and minerals, it begins to slowly break down and show symptoms that could mask more serious conditions. In an article in the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/) journalist Jane Brody explains that a deficiency can creep up without warning and cause misdiagnosis.

Brody explains that, for example, vitamin B12 is essential for good overall well-being, especially as humans reach the golden years of life. Some of the symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency include:

ANEMIA – Anemia happens when the body lacks enough red blood cells, which are required to provide oxygen to tissues like muscles, or the brain. It could be caused by a vitamin deficiency or something more serious, like internal bleeding within the lining of the colon.

MUSCLE WEAKNESS – This symptom goes hand in hand with exhaustion and fatigue. While it could be a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency, it could also be a sign of something bigger like osteoporosis or chronic fatigue syndrome.

INCONTINENCE – Although it’s a sign of a B12 deficiency, incontinence, also known as overactive bladder, can be caused by a neurological disorder, stones, or tumors in the bladder, or just be a side effect of medication taken for an unrelated disorder.

LOW BLOOD PRESSURE – Vitamin deficiency can cause low blood pressure, but so can certain heart conditions, problems with the thyroid, or dehydration which mean not taking in enough fluids for the body to function properly.

DEPRESSION – There are many causes for depression including chemicals in the brain misfiring, a hormonal imbalance, or the memory of some trauma from an earlier time in life. But a vitamin deficiency could cause the problem as well.

COGNITIVE PROBLEMS – Cognitive issues are related to brain function, and could include things like poor memory. But instead of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, these symptoms could instead point to a simple vitamin deficiency.

As you can see, vitamin deficiency can cause serious problems. This is true for almost any vitamin, not just B12, and could include other necessary things for normal body function like the antioxidant glutathione or minerals such as iron.

Plants versus Supplements

While plant and food sources are typically the best choice for vitamins because that is what the body absorbs the easiest, that rule of thumb does not always hold true, especially when it comes to vitamin B12. This is where supplements come in handy.

Supplements such as SynergiaGSH, which include vitamin B12 as well as many other important vitamins and nutrients, while not a cure for old age, they can slow the aging process and help hold off some of the symptoms, like the ones listed above.

Just remember, supplements work best when taken with a doctor‘s approval and in conjunction with both a well-balanced diet and exercise.

A doctor will likely prescribe blood work which is a necessary prerequisite for vitamin supplements. This is because when their levels are too high, some vitamins or minerals could be toxic to the human body.