Vitamin D deficiency symptoms

Introduction

The concept of vitamin D deficiency has been around for a long time now, but many people have no idea what is actually known about it. The most common theories are that the skin gets sun-exposed when the sun is not shining (which causes lower amounts of vitamin D), or that the bones get exposed to sunlight and so produce more vitamin D. What is certain for sure is that vitamin D deficiency can cause various problems, in addition to being a symptom of several diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, among others. There are a few reasons why this information might be important for you, one of them being that there are studies showing that vitamin D deficiency can lead to some very serious conditions, especially if it’s combined with other comorbidities. With over 1,000,000 deaths each year due to chronic kidney disease, it’s important to know your levels and determine whether it would make any sense to take supplements against it. I will show more of these issues further on in my article below. If you or someone you know is suffering from chronic vitamin D deficiency, here are 10 vitamins that many people can use to treat it.

What Is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble steroid hormone that is produced by our bodies to help maintain calcium and phosphate balance, which controls bodily fluids. Without enough calcium and phosphorus, we could experience several things, including bone loss and increased risk for heart disease, among others. It can also play an active role in controlling blood clotting, which can reduce your overall health, without causing any side effects. However, since it doesn't directly affect all parts of your body, it can interact with other minerals in your blood to regulate what goes into them.

Vitamin D is found naturally in fish liver oil, egg yolks, fatty fish, and some fortified foods. In humans with excess vitamin D (from diet sources) or insufficient vitamin D (from sunlight), deficiencies can occur in areas like:

Heart : low HDL or “good” HDL

: low or “good” HDL Bones : low total calcium absorption, decreased absorption of sodium and potassium, higher calcium absorption, etc. These can lower your resting Heart Rate. This is because vitamin D plays an active role in regulating how much calcium your body absorbs. As well as calcium and phosphorus, vitamin D also helps control parathyroid hormone secretion by adding another layer of protection to the pituitary gland, where calcium and phosphorus are stored (also regulated by the thyroid). Therefore, a deficiency in vitamin D can contribute to hypertension.

: low total calcium absorption, decreased absorption of sodium and potassium, higher calcium absorption, etc. These can lower your resting Heart Rate. This is because vitamin D plays an active role in regulating how much calcium your body absorbs. As well as calcium and phosphorus, vitamin D also helps control parathyroid hormone secretion by adding another layer of protection to the pituitary gland, where calcium and phosphorus are stored (also regulated by the thyroid). Therefore, a deficiency in vitamin D can contribute to hypertension. Skin : Low or normal levels of calcium and/or vitamin D

: Low or normal levels of calcium and/or vitamin D Lung: lower lung function due to calcium and/or vitamin D deficiency, leading to respiratory issues, like coughs. Vitamin D deficiency can make your lungs stiff and wheezy, which also decreases your airflow. This can negatively impact heart health.

Lower kidney function (if you don’t have the right type of kidney), reduced sperm count, impaired immune system, and muscle weakness (if you don’t have enough zinc or folic acid, respectively) are just a few of the things that are related to inadequate vitamin D. Since vitamin D is a fat-soluble steroid hormone, an extra pound/quater of weight is linked to being deficient in it, meaning that there are more calories you burn than you consume. So if you lose body weight or gain body mass from having more calcium, more phosphorous, along with lowered amounts of protein, you have more vitamin D to compensate. This means that, if you have too little vitamin D or too much vitamin D, the only way to decrease its levels is to lose extra weight and eat more vegetables rich in vitamin D. For example, broccoli and carrots are good sources of dietary vitamin D that are packed with beta-carotene, which in turn, increases your amount of vitamin D. A deficiency is often associated with malnutrition, but the correct recommendations are to have adequate amounts of vitamins D3 and D2. People who are deficient in both of these nutrients, however, can still be healthy but should follow the proper dosage recommendations to avoid negative effects like decreased immunity, and high energy and fatigue.

What Are Symptoms Of Vitamin D Deficiency?

Despite the fact that plenty of resources and guidelines are available regarding how to increase your amount of vitamin D, there are some symptoms that can happen so that they are not limited to being undernourished (which is the most common problem). One of the main symptom that most people will notice is the lack of sufficient vitamin D, for example due to age or genetics, or in cases where supplementation is required. Others include:

Skin Issues : dryness, flaking, itching, redness, swelling, irritation, blisters, rash, etc.

: moist skin, flaking, itching, redness, swelling, swelling, irritation, blisters, rash, etc. Bone Loss : osteoporosis, fractures, spine fracture, low density mineralization, scoliosis, etc.

: osteoporosis, fractures, spine fracture, low density mineralization, scoliosis, etc. Vision Problems : blurred vision, headache, neck pain, dizziness, swelling of the face and scalp, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chest pain, light sensitivity, nausea, diarrhea, etc.

: blurred vision, headache, neck pain, dizziness, swelling of the face and scalp, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chest pain, light sensitivity, nausea, diarrhea, diarrhea, etc. Irregular Periods : infertility, premature pregnancy, menopausal symptoms, ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy, etc.

: infertility, premature pregnancy, menopausal symptoms, ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy, etc. Muscle Weakness: back pain and cramp, weakness, muscle spasms, cramps/spasms, upper back pain, shoulder pain and muscle tension, migraine headaches, upper back hyperextension, upper back pain, shoulder stiffness and pain, upper back pain, neck pain.

: back pain and cramp, weakness, muscle spasms, cramps/spasms, upper back pain, shoulder pain and muscle tension, migraine headaches, upper back hyperextension, upper back pain, shoulder stiffness and pain, upper back pain, neck pain. Depression : feeling depressed, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, depression, insomnia, etc.

: feeling depressed, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, depression, insomnia, etc. Anxiety : Being undernourished in terms of number and severity, anxiety, fear of accidents, etc.

: Being undernourished in terms of number and severity, anxiety, fear of accidents, etc. High Blood Pressure: feeling high blood pressure, migraines or nervousness/anxiety, sleep apnea, stroke, obesity, cardiovascular disease, asthma, insulin resistance, high cholesterol, etc.

Due to vitamin D deficiency, your skin may appear soft and wrinkled, which can lead to acne breakouts and redness. You can notice that you are prone to contracting colds and the flu, because a lack of vitamin D can worsen inflammation. Another possible reason is that vitamin D deficiency can disrupt your hormone production mechanism, which can affect growth hormones, testosterone, cortisol, and stress hormones, which are necessary to fight off infections after some time. Moreover, there are a number of studies that show that vitamin D deficiency can cause a significant rise in estrogen, progesterone, and gonadotropin, which are responsible for reproductive health and sexual development.

How To Correct Vitamin D Deficiency?

So let’s assume that we all have excess amounts of free-radical scavenging antioxidants in our system (also known as oxidative stress). It’s true that antioxidants play active roles in fighting free radicals, and that these molecules can destroy cells and tissues to keep your body functioning normally. Nevertheless, there can be one big issue: free radicals can damage DNA, resulting in permanent changes. When a cell is damaged, the repair of the cell is impossible. As soon as you have something like oxidative stress in your system, you get irreversible changes, especially because the process can affect everything on your body. So, it’s vital to protect your natural antioxidant stores with vitamin D supplements.

For example, vitamin D can increase your levels of superoxide dismutase, which stops redox reactions from happening, thereby protecting your cells from getting damaged. Reducing the formation of these carcinogens (because free radicals can damage cell membranes), helps protect your skin cells from oxidative damage. Moreover, it can protect your organs from any kind of oxidative damage, which is why I always recommend taking 4-8 servings of food every day. My go-to diet is usually blueberries, salmon, beef, nuts (especially walnuts, because they are rich in selenium and vitamin E) and brown rice cakes in order to promote a balanced nutrient intake. I also do supplement my supplements with B12, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin C, biotin, thiamine, boron, folate, and iodine (also called macronutrients). Additionally, vitamin D can boost the immune system and help combat viruses. That said, despite having multiple supplements available, you must always consult with your doctor.