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Most people know that they should have a yearly physical and get blood work taken to be sure that everything is balanced.

Often times testing for vitamin D deficiency is not normally done without asking for it specifically.

A relative of mine, at the prodding of her Mother, recently went in for a check-up and found out that she was so low in Vitamin D, that her doctor had to put her on high powered Vitamin D supplements for 1 month, and then she has a follow-up appointment after that to be sure that the levels have become normal again.

Living in Western Washington State (as we do) or any other cold/rainy place for most of the year, you know that we tend not to get enough sun exposure and thus we become Vitamin D deficient.  Most of the body’s vitamin D requirements are met by the skin in response to sun exposure. Other less potent sources of vitamin D include foods such as salmon, sardines, cod liver oil, and vitamin D-fortified foods like milk and some cereals. Vitamin D can also be obtained through supplements.

Low Vitamin D may cause:

• a heart disease risk (such as: congestive heart failure and chronic blood vessel inflammation)
• high blood pressure
• alters hormone levels to increase insulin resistance, which raises the risk of diabetes
• may cause obesity
• reduces immune system (thus causing recurring illness)
• depression or “the blues”

Several studies have shown that people with low vitamin D levels were twice as likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or other heart-related event during follow-up, compared with those with higher vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D Deficiency on the Rise

Vitamin D deficiency is much more common than previously thought, affecting up to 50% of (healthy) adults and children in the U.S.

Researchers say higher rates of vitamin D deficiency may be due in part to people spending more time indoors and efforts to minimize sun exposure through the use of sunscreens. Sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 blocks approximately 99% of vitamin D synthesis by the skin.

In Conclusion

Thinking that you get enough sun exposure, or thinking you’re eating all the right foods, is not a guarantee to keep you from checking your Vitamin D levels.  Be sure that the next time you go to your doctor for  your annual physical (or any other visit), to request that your Vitamin D levels get checked.  The possible side effects and complications of being Vitamin D deficient, far outweigh any fear you may have of getting pricked (with a needle) at the lab, or any other reason you can think of to be careless by not asking about your levels, because it’s imperative to find out if your Vitamin D level’s are normal.

So take out your favorite sunscreen, lather it on and try and enjoy at least 15 minutes of sun exposure a day.

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