{"id":537,"date":"2017-09-27T06:37:25","date_gmt":"2017-09-27T06:37:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/veryhealthy.life\/?p=537"},"modified":"2021-07-12T13:26:51","modified_gmt":"2021-07-12T13:26:51","slug":"14-symptoms-vitamin-d-deficiency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/veryhealthy.life\/14-symptoms-vitamin-d-deficiency\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Symptoms of a Vitamin D Deficiency"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Often referred to as the \u201csunshine vitamin\u201d because the body produces it when it is exposed to sunlight, vitamin D plays a critical role in your health and overall well being. A fat-soluble vitamin in a collection of compounds which include vitamins D1, D2, and D3, it can have an impact on your body\u2019s genes; up to 2,000 of them.<\/p>\n

Vitamin D performs several important functions in the body. The most vital of all of these functions is the regulation and absorption of phosphorus and calcium. This vitamin also facilitates the proper functioning of the immune system. As a result, vitamin D helps to strengthen the bones and helps the body ward off illnesses and infections. This vitamin has also been found to lower the risk of developing colon, prostate and breast cancer, as well as some chronic diseases, including diabetes and high blood pressure. Lastly, vitamin D plays a part in regulating your mood.<\/p>\n

Given the important roles vitamin D plays in the body, it\u2019s important to make sure that you\u2019re getting the right amount. If not, your health could suffer greatly. However, many people are unaware that they are deficient in vitamin D until they start developing severe issues.<\/p>\n

How can you tell if you aren\u2019t getting enough vitamin D? A simple blood test will tell you; however, there are several symptoms that can also clue you into a deficiency.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look at 14 of the most common symptoms that are associated with a vitamin D deficiency.<\/p>\n

1. You have pain in your bones<\/h3>\n

People who are deficient in vitamin D<\/a> often experience pain in their bones. For instance, they may have pain in their ankles, shins, wrists, or forearms. Since this vitamin helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus, if you aren\u2019t getting enough of it, your bones may become weak, which could lead to pain, and often, that pain can be chronic. Many people who are diagnosed with fibromyalgia or arthritis have low levels of the vitamin. If you are experiencing pain in your bones that last for several weeks, ask your doctor if it could be a result of a vitamin D deficiency.<\/p>\n

\"\"2. You are experiencing significant weakness<\/h3>\n

If you are feeling excessively and noticeably weak, it could be because you are deficient in vitamin D. This vitamin<\/a> allows your body to maintain its power and strength. Researchers have found that vitamin D aids in muscle control, so if you are finding it difficult to perform even the most basic tasks, such as opening a jar or walking up a flight of stairs, it might be that you have low levels of this important vitamin.<\/p>\n

Taking supplements or modifying your diet to include more foods that help your body produce vitamin D could help to restore your strength.<\/p>\n

\"\"3. You feel excessively tired on a constant basis<\/h3>\n

If you feel like you are always fatigued<\/a>, no matter how much sleep you get, it could be a sign that you have a vitamin D deficiency. Several researchers have discovered that people who have significantly low levels of Vitamin D are excessively tired. If your levels are low, no matter how much sleep you get, and how good the quality of your sleep is, you simply aren\u2019t going to feel rested.<\/p>\n

Going out in the sun, taking a vitamin D supplement, or consuming foods that aid in the production of vitamin D could help to solve the problem.<\/p>\n

\"\"4. You find that you are getting sick more often<\/h3>\n

Of all the functions vitamin D plays, strengthening the immune system<\/a> is one of the most important. A strong immune system is necessary to ward off illnesses and infections. If you are deficient in vitamin D, your immune system will become weak. As a result, you will be more prone to developing various illnesses and infections that are caused by bacteria and viruses.<\/p>\n

You might find that you are developing the flu, strep throat, or colds more often than you normally do. There is also a chance that you could be more prone to developing a chronic illness, such as COPD. One study revealed that those who suffer from COPD have very low levels of vitamin D.<\/p>\n

\"\"5. You\u2019ve suffered broken bones<\/h3>\n

Though anyone can suffer a broken bone, even those who have plenty of vitamin D, the chances of breaking a bone increases when you have vitamin D deficiency<\/a>. Your body naturally stops building bone mass at about the age of 30; however, if you have low vitamin D levels, loss of bone mass can speed up.<\/p>\n

Why? Because, as stated, vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorous, which strengthen the bones. If you are deficient in vitamin D, your bones won\u2019t be as strong, and as a result, you are more likely to break them.<\/p>\n

\"\"6. You feel like you\u2019re down in the dumps<\/h3>\n

If you are feeling more blue than usual lately, it might just be that you aren\u2019t getting enough vitamin D. Those who are diagnosed with depression<\/a> usually have a shortage of vitamin D.<\/p>\n

Though researchers are still trying to figure out the exact reason why low levels of vitamin D cause depression, it is believed that mineral may have an effect on the hormones that regulate the mood, such as serotonin. So, if you are feeling glum and feeling that way is unusual for you, it might just be that you have a vitamin D deficiency.<\/p>\n

\"\"7. You\u2019re sweating excessively<\/h3>\n

For many people, one of the first signs of a vitamin D deficiency is increased sweating<\/a>, particularly from the head. Usually, sweating isn\u2019t an issue; in fact, it\u2019s good for the body. It helps to release toxins that are buried in the fat cells that are located underneath the skin.<\/p>\n

However, if you are sweating more often than usual, your activity levels haven\u2019t increased, and your body temperature is around the average of 98.6 degrees F, your dewy forehead may be the result of a vitamin D deficiency.<\/p>\n

\"\"8. You feel overly anxious<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s normal to feel anxious from time-to-time, especially when you are faced with a challenging situation, or there\u2019s a sudden change in your life. Anxiety<\/a> is nature\u2019s way of helping you figure out how to react to danger. However, if you feel like your anxiety levels are at an all-time high and there\u2019s no apparent reason for it, or you are worrying about things that normally wouldn\u2019t bother you or are trivial, you just might have a vitamin D deficiency.<\/p>\n

Just like low levels of vitamin D can cause depression as it affects the hormones that are helping to monitor your mood, a deficiency in this mineral could also cause anxiety. If you aren\u2019t getting the right amount of vitamin D, you might end up feeling highly anxious.<\/p>\n

\"\"9. You are suffering from hair loss<\/h3>\n

Hair loss<\/a> is normal. As a matter of fact, the average person loses about 100 strands of hair on a daily basis. But, if you are seeing more hair collecting in your shower drain, you see more in your hairbrush, you have more hair than normal collecting on your clothing, or you actually see bald spots developing, you very well may be deficient in vitamin D.<\/p>\n

Several studies have found that increased hair loss is caused by low levels of vitamin D. In fact, those who have alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease, are often deficient in vitamin D.<\/p>\n

\"\"10. Your wounds are taking a long time to heal<\/h3>\n

If you notice that it is taking longer for scraps, scratches or other wounds <\/a>are taking longer to heal than they normally would, it might be because you have low vitamin D levels. Various research studies have revealed that vitamin D helps the body increase its ability to create new skin, which is vital for healing wounds.<\/p>\n

Additionally, it has been found that vitamin D helps to fight off infections and control inflammation, which are also vital aspects of wound healing. If it is taking longer than normal for your wounds to heal, you just might not have enough vitamin D.<\/p>\n

\"\"11. You are having stomach issues<\/h3>\n

If you feel like your pants are fitting tired, but you haven\u2019t put on any weight, you are experiencing more gas than normal, you have pain in your stomach, or there has been a change in your stools (they\u2019re watery and loose,) there is a very good chance that you have you are deficient in vitamin D.<\/p>\n

This vitamin aids in the absorption of fat, which could lead to serious gut problems. In the most severe cases, low levels of vitamin D can lead to the development of several conditions that affect the gut, including non-celiac gluten sensitivity, Crohn\u2019s disease<\/a>, and inflammatory bowel disease.<\/p>\n

\"\"12. You have more muscle pain than usual<\/h3>\n

Various factors can lead to muscle pain, such as strains<\/a> or excessive muscle use; however, many people are unaware that vitamin D deficiency can actually cause muscle pain.<\/p>\n

If you are experiencing pain in your shoulders, neck, back or any other muscle in your body and that pain is severe and long-lasting, it could be the result of a vitamin D deficiency.<\/p>\n

\"\"13. You are losing bone density<\/h3>\n

Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium<\/a>, which directly affects the health of the bones. It\u2019s not unusual to lose bone density. Women over the age of 50, in particular, are prone to bone loss; however, if you are deficient in vitamin D, the rate of bone loss could be increased.<\/p>\n

As a result, you will be more prone to developing osteoporosis. You are also at a greater risk of sustaining a break or fracture.<\/p>\n

\"\"14. Increase respiratory problems<\/h3>\n

Studies have found that vitamin D may help keep respiratory infections and illnesses at bay. If you are deficient in this vitamin, you may feel winded after completing simple tasks, or you might have difficulty catching your breath.<\/p>\n

Why? \u2013 Because if you aren\u2019t getting enough vitamin D, you are more susceptible to respiratory infections, which could cause serious, chronic conditions, such as asthma<\/a>.<\/p>\n\r\n

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