Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath can be the first sign of a vitamin deficiency, and it’s important to know which vitamins can lead to this symptom. This is because the body draws oxygen from the air you breathe into your blood. When you start breathing faster or in a high-altitude area, more oxygen is drawn in than your body needs for its immediate energy needs.
Some oxygen is sent to your organs and muscles, and the rest is released as carbon dioxide. A person suffering from a vitamin deficiency might not have enough red blood cells or hemoglobin responsible for carrying oxygen around the body. This can lead to shortness of breath, as less oxygen reaches your lungs and travels through your blood to your organs and muscles, where it’s used up and exhaled as waste.
In some cases, shortness of breath can indicate a lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Still, other symptoms, such as wheezing, can help determine whether the cause is COPD or another lung disease like asthma or pneumonia. Therefore, if you experience shortness of breath, you must see a doctor to get tested for vitamin deficiencies.
