{"id":10655,"date":"2019-08-23T05:42:04","date_gmt":"2019-08-23T05:42:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=10655"},"modified":"2022-02-07T08:55:23","modified_gmt":"2022-02-07T08:55:23","slug":"15-frequent-symptoms-of-folate-deficiency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/15-frequent-symptoms-of-folate-deficiency\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Frequent Symptoms of Folate Deficiency"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Folate deficiency, or folic acid deficiency and otherwise also known as vitamin B9, can cause problems with your body. It is one of the many important vitamins responsible for cell metabolism. Folate or folic acid also plays an important role in creating DNA, RNA, and proteins that are needed for our bodies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Folate is very important for regulating the creation of red blood cells. When you are deficient in it, you can have an increase in poisonous metabolites. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can get folate in your body by eating many different leafy green vegetables and some animal products. Many people who eat a well-balanced and healthy diet normally get enough folate in their food sources. However, there are also those who are pregnant or breastfeeding that require more folate and when this happens, a deficiency will occur. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many different symptoms of folate deficiency. Keep reading to learn all about the signs and symptoms of folate deficiency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Feeling tired a lot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are feeling tired, weak, and lethargy <\/a>too often, this could be a sign of folate deficiency. If you start feeling this symptom, it is time to see a doctor. Your doctor will be able to run some tests to determine if your weak and tired feeling may be caused by folate deficiency. If it is, he or she will be able to help you figure out what to do to bring it back to normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being tired a lot could also be a symptom of something else entirely. It is just one of the many symptoms to watch out for when trying to determine whether or not you have folate deficiency. However, this is why it is important to see your doctor so he or she can rule out whatever it isn’t to determine what it truly is. This way you will be on the first step in treating the folate deficiency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Muscle weakness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are suffering from muscle weakness <\/a>along with feeling lethargic and tired all the time, this could be a folate deficiency. However, this is another thing you will need to see your doctor for since muscle weakness can be a sign of other things too. Provide your doctor with all of your symptoms and ask him or her if it could be a folate deficiency or even some other deficiency. It could be something else entirely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are struggling to pick things up that otherwise wouldn’t be so heavy for you and if you are having trouble exercising, you should see your doctor right away to get a diagnosis and treatment. If it is a folate deficiency, he will give you a treatment plan that may or may not include a folate supplement or something prescribed to you for the severe deficiency.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just don’t keep any symptoms hidden from your doctor. If something is wrong, he or she will be able to help treat you and get you feeling better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Pins and needles in your extremities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are having trouble with your feet and legs and it feels like you have pins and needles stuck in them, this could be a cause of folate deficiency<\/a>. Do you feel like your legs and feet go numb quite often? Are your legs and feet cold all the time? If so, it could be a folate deficiency or something else entirely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either way, you will need to see your doctor to determine the root cause behind neuropathy as they call it that may be causing folate deficiency. The doctor will run different tests on you. The pins and needles could even be a sign of low circulation which could be a symptom of itself of folate deficiency.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once your doctor finds out that folate deficiency is the cause of the pins and needles in your feet and legs feeling, he or she will treat you accordingly. Trust your doctor and everything will be alright. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Psychological problems like depression<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Maybe you are suffering from psychological problems such as depression<\/a>, memory problems, confusion, and even problems with understanding something or someone and judgment. If these are just some of the symptoms you are experiencing, you might have folate deficiency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are suffering from these psychological problems and you have other symptoms along with them such as being tired a lot, pins and needles in your extremities, and maybe even muscle weakness, it could for sure be folate deficiency and you will need to consult with your doctor about what to do to treat it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your doctor will ask you a series of questions as well as run some tests on you to determine if you do have some type of deficiency. Once they rule everything else out, they will determine the best way to treat the deficiency you do have. Folate deficiency is not something you want to wait around on to treat and cure itself. You and your doctor will need to work together to come up with the best solution for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Gastrointestinal problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting<\/a>, diarrhea, nausea, weight loss, and pain in your abdomen could all be a sign of folate deficiency. If you are suffering from any of these symptoms and think you might be deficient in folate or any other nutrient needed for your body to function properly, you will need to see your doctor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you visit your doctor he or she will tell you what the problem is after he determines what is causing your symptoms. He or she will also provide you with the best treatment plan available to help you feel better and get on with your life. He may tell you to just take a supplement to increase your folate intake and he or she may prescribe you something to help you feel better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever you and your doctor choose to do for your treatment plan, just know he or she has your health and best interest at heart to make you feel better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Experiencing headache and dizziness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Experiencing constant headaches and dizziness <\/a>along with the symptoms already mentioned could very well be a sign of folate deficiency. If you are having a lot of fo headaches and feel dizzy a good bit of the time, it is time to see your doctor about these symptoms. Although they could be something else entirely, you will need to determine that with your doctor. He or she will have to rule everything out first before landing on folate deficiency. However, once he or she does, you will get the best treatment your health insurance can afford. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once they run the many tests required to find out if it is a deficiency, you will then know which way you should go with your treatment. Your doctor just wants you to feel better the best possible way you can and he or she only wants to help you live a normal life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Unusually pale skin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you aren’t normally a pale-skinned person but have been looking a little paler than usual, you might have a deficiency. Pale skin could be a sign, along with many other different symptoms, of folate deficiency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you start to notice your skin looking paler than usual and you have other symptoms like a constant headache, dizziness, vomiting, and much more, you will need to seek medical help right away. Going to your doctor or even the emergency room if you are getting really worried, will put your mind at ease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once your doctor sees the paleness look of your skin and hears about your other symptoms, he or she will go to work in diagnosing you with folate deficiency as soon as possible. They will provide you with your available options for your treatment <\/a>and either suggest you take a supplement to increase the intake of your deficiency or prescribe you something stronger. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Shortness of breath<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Are you having trouble breathing or catching your breath? If you are experiencing shortness of breath along with the previously mentioned symptoms, you might be folate deficient. Folate deficiency can cause a myriad of signs and symptoms from headache <\/a>to dizziness to unusually pale skin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once shortness of breath comes on, you might think you are dying or having a panic attack. However, try to take deep breaths and relax and calm down because if it is coming along with the previously mentioned symptoms, it is most likely folate deficiency which will cause a lot of problems for your health and will need to be treated as soon as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seeing your doctor is your first step in understanding the root of the problem is. Once they have a clear diagnosis of you, they will be able to help you out a lot better with your treatment plan to care for you.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Swollen Tongue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People dealing with folate <\/a>deficiency may find that they develop problems with their tongue’s normal functioning and appearance. Typically, you can feel every bump of your tongue. The tongue’s sensitivity is astounding, and it’s how we can feel something as small as a piece of an eggshell in an omelet we’re eating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, people who have a folate deficiency find that the tongue swells and turns smooth. The patient may notice that the tongue takes up more space in the mouth than it normally would, leading to problems with swallowing and moving saliva around the mouth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They may also experience changes to taste, and they may lose some sensation of taste due to the swelling. The smoothing of the tongue’s surface also makes it challenging to differentiate flavors. Some people may find that the tongue starts to dry out, causing irritation and light pain sensations. These symptoms may persist, even if you drink enough water during the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Irritable Mood<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Folate is a crucial nutrient responsible for assisting with the normal regulation of brain activity and cognitive function. If you have a folate deficiency, you may find that you start to experience changes in your mood. If you’re a happy and amicable person, you may suddenly find that you feel irritable and frustrated with the people around you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lack of folate causes dysfunction in the brain, particularly the limbic system. The limbic system is the part of the brain controlling behavior and emotions. As a result of the folate deficiency, the limbic system undergoes changes, resulting in the person becoming moody and irritable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, this symptom of folate deficiency is common with many other disorders, and your doctor will likely need to issue further testing to find the cause of the mood swings<\/a>. Fortunately, these changes usually reverse with folate supplementation, and the person makes a full recovery without any permanent damage to the limbic system or their personality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Decreased Appetite<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People with folate deficiency also notice that they experience changes to their appetite<\/a>. Folate stimulates the hormonal system. Leptin and ghrelin are two hormones governing the hunger reaction in the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When leptin is high, the person feels hungry, and if it is too high, they may find themselves feeling hungry all the time. However, people with folate deficiency experience a lower production of leptin, and an increase in ghrelin, resulting in a loss of appetite. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of the downregulation of leptin production, the patient may feel they don’t need to eat at all. This feeling of low appetite levels may seem like a blessing to overweight people. However, we need food to survive, and not eating enough during the day may lead to energy and mood changes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reduction in appetite may also cause the onset of rapid weight loss in the patient. They may find that they start losing body fat and muscle mass due to the lack of caloric intake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Diarrhea<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Folate also helps regulate the digestive system and how the body absorbs and uses water. People with a folate deficiency may also fund that they develop symptoms of diarrhea<\/a>. Watery stools caused by folate deficiency can lead to rapid dehydration of the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dehydration can be a disruptive force on the body. If you don’t get enough water and dehydration sets in, you could experience a mineral imbalance. When passing watery stools, the body flushes out critical minerals like sodium, potassium, and other electrolytes. If you don’t replace these minerals, there is a chance the body can go into shock and experience life-threatening seizures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In severe cases of dehydration, the affected individual may find that they experience seizures that end up putting them in a coma. If you experience diarrhea, it’s important to replace the water and minerals lost in the bowel movement. Drink water infused with salt or specific rehydration drinks after each bowel movement to prevent dehydration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Complications of Folate Deficiency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Folate deficiency is a big problem for the body. It serves many important functions, assisting with regulating many biological systems. People who experience folate deficiency will typically go through all of the symptoms listed in this post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if they fail to get a diagnosis and the treatment they need to reverse the problem, they may have severe complications relating to the deficiency. Pregnant women rely heavily on folate for the proper development of the fetus in the womb. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If they don’t have the right amount of folate in their diet or fail to supplement with folate, they put their child’s development at risk. When there isn’t enough folate available for the fetus, the child may experience congenital issues like spina bifida. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Infants with spina bifida experience the incorrect forming of the spinal column<\/a> and the spinal verve. As a result, they end up experiencing developmental problems, and they will not recover from these issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Risk Factors for Folate Deficiency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A set of risk factors make some people more prone to folate deficiency than others. Typically, we get enough folate from our diet without the need for supplementation<\/a>. Foods like eggs are high in folate, and adding them to your diet ensures you get enough of this crucial nutrient in your body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, making poor food choices and eating a fast-food diet high in sugar and empty calories provides little folate for the body, resulting in a deficiency. People that drink a lot of alcohol are also at risk of developing folate deficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have already discussed the importance of folate supplementation for pregnant women. It’s important to note that the use of some medications can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb folate from your food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice the signs of folate deficiency listed in this post, consult with your doctor as soon as possible. They will run blood tests to determine your folate level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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15. Treating Folate Deficiency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If the doctor finds that you are folate deficient, they will ask you to make dietary changes to include foods high in folate. They will also ask you to supplement your diet with additional folate to bring your levels back to normal as soon as possible. Folate supplements are affordable and readily available over the counter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases of folate deficiency, changes to diet and the addition of folate supplements are all you need to return your body to optimal folate levels. In some cases, the patient makes be experiencing folate deficiency due to disease. If that’s the case, the physician <\/a>will identify the underlying cause of your problem and make arrangements to treat it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can take several weeks for people to reach normal folate levels in the body after adding high-folate foods to their diet and supplementing with folate. Your doctor will likely tell you to return for another round of bloodwork after a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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