B12 Vitamins & Tachycardia

Tachycardia is an arrhythmic disorder of the heart that causes your heart to beat too fast. There are a number of causes of tachycardia, including a deficiency in vitamin B-12. Vitamin B-12 deficiency may lead to many other symptoms, including dizziness, chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath and weight loss. Tachycardia, or rapid heart beat, may be one of the more distressing symptoms because it can be life-threatening at its worst and at its best may mimic symptoms of severe anxiety.

Vitamin B-12 and Your Body

The average adult requires 2.5 mcg per day of vitamin B-12, which is essential in the production of the red blood cells that transport oxygen throughout your body. Cobalamin is the term that describes compounds with biologic vitamin B-12 activity. According to the Merck Manual, "these compounds are involved in nucleic acid metabolism, methyl transfer, and myelin synthesis and repair." These compounds are also necessary in the production of normal red blood cells. To maintain sufficient stores within your body, it must be ingested daily in sufficient amounts. Your body -- the liver in particular -- will normally store vitamin B-12 in sufficient amounts to sustain your body's physiologic needs for three to five years after you stop consuming dietary vitamin B-12. Insufficient vitamin B-12 will leave your body unable to perform the essential task of oxygenating red blood cells and may lead to unwanted and serious side effects such as tachycardia.

Vitamin B-12 Deficiency

Dietary vitamin B-12 deficiency is a condition in which your body has too little vitamin B-12 in its reserves. Your body's inability to absorb the vitamin, or a diet lacking in foods rich in vitamin B-12 over time, may lead to vitamin B-12 deficiency. Your doctor will measure serum vitamin B-12 levels to diagnose the condition. Treatment generally involves prescription of oral or parenteral vitamin B-12. Folate, or folic acid, should not replace treatment with vitamin B-12 supplements because folate may address resulting anemia but still allow neurologic deficits to progress. If more serious side effects of vitamin B-12 deficiency present, you may need additional medical intervention to treat. In the case of tachycardia, this may mean urgent medical intervention for the heart rhythm.

Tachycardia

Tachycardia is a medical term referring to a rapid heartbeat. You may experience more than 100 beats per minute and up to 400 beats per minute with this condition, leaving you feeling anxious, confused and lightheaded. You may also experience shortness of breath, chest pain and heart palpitations. Something disrupts the normal electrical impulses that control the rhythm of your heart, leading to tachycardia. Tachycardia can be a life-threatening condition that, when serious, could be fatal. Vitamin B-12 deficiency may contribute to or cause this disruption, and medical intervention is required immediately to assess the cause and severity of this condition. When tachycardia is severe, urgent medical intervention may be required to "reset" the heart rate to normal.

Sources of Vitamin B-12

Get enough vitamin B-12 through diet or supplementation to prevent deficiency related tachycardia. Vitamin B-12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is only produced by specific micro-organisms. Find this vitamin in dairy products such as yogurt, cheese and milk. Meats rich in vitamin B-12 include fish, poultry and lean red meats. An underlying condition, such as celiac disease, is most often the cause of vitamin B-12 deficiency. Long-term food choices that do not include foods rich in this vitamin, such as a vegan diet, may also lead to deficiency. If you are vegan or do not get sufficient vitamin B-12 from your diet to prevent vitamin B-12 deficiency and symptoms such as tachycardia, find a quality supplement. Review required supplement doses with your physician.

Medical Intervention Necessary

Vitamin B-12 deficiency may lead to a decreased production of red blood cells. These red blood cells are vital to the body because they oxygenate the body's cells and tissues. Symptoms of vitamin B-12 deficiency may vary depending on many factors, including underlying reasons for the deficiency. A vitamin B-12 deficiency affects the gastrointestinal tract, the nervous system, and the cardiovascular system, leaving you with a multitude of symptoms, including dizziness, chest pain and rapid or irregular heartbeat. See your doctor if you have any of these symptoms to rule out the presence of other conditions and discuss treatment options. Untreated, this condition may lead to serious health risks.