Heart Issues

Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to more serious complications than tingling hands and feet. Some suffer from heart issues or stroke.

Two years ago, I went to the doctor for heart palpitations. At that time I was taking my B12 injections regularly, so something else was up.

After seeing a cardiologist and hearing my 38 year old heart was as good as a 25 year old's, my doctor pointed out that my potassium level was high. Too much potassium can cause the heart to palpitate. No more bananas. Or coconut water. I think I've had one banana and maybe two coconut waters in the last 2 years.

This all brings me to deduce that a body with too few red blood cells has a heart that works too much. Or maybe it's working less.

Earlier today, after a few hours working on my laptop, I felt extremely tired and lied down to rest. My heart beat weakly. I got up and swallowed a few drops of a cayenne pepper tincture I had made 2 years before, and then lied down again. I didn't want to end up like Amy Winehouse.

I wonder if these symptoms are over-exaggerated. My mother has accused me in the past for it, telling me they were all psychosomatic.

Today, each time I tried to walk at normal pace, my head has had that fuzzy and dull sensation. I call it tennis ball head. And then there's chest pain.

It turned out that two years ago, the palpitations were related to anxiety. My doctor at the time suggested that I go to the World Trade Center health clinic. It took another year and a half to finally go to the clinic, and since starting therapy I am a lot less anxious. Indeed it was Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from the 9-11 tragedy.

This time, the chest pain is due only to not taking my B12 injections regularly. Otherwise, I eat well and load up on iron.

There's a reason why sometimes vitamin B12 deficiency is called "pernicious" anemia.