Many people are aware that Vitamin D is referred to as the sunshine vitamin, yet its benefits for health are often overlooked. It assists with bone density, helps your immune system and may elevate your mood as well. Even though vitamin D is important for health, lacking enough of it is very common. If nothing seems wrong, but you feel out of sorts, your low iron levels could be the explanation.
In this post, we will list the most common symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency to help you catch them quickly.
1. Many Illnesses or Infections
If you find yourself always getting colds, it could be partly because your vitamin D is low. Taking vitamin C strengthens the immune system so that the body can resist viruses and bacteria. Those with low vitamin D levels may be getting sick more often than they normally would. Often, chronic infections only show up as a signal after a while.
2. Tiredness That Lasts for a Long Time
Tiredness often appears in our lives, but persistent exhaustion can make life frustrating and tough. Vitamin D helps produce energy within our cells. When your hormones fall, your energy may drop too. If you’re sleeping restfully but still feel tired, a deficiency in vitamin D may be part of the issue.
3. You experience weakness or aching in your muscles.
It’s easy to assume muscle pain is caused by heavy workouts or age, but sometimes it means you’re not getting enough vitamin D. Vitamin B12 makes it possible for muscles to function well and remain healthy. If your muscles are deficient, you might find them feeling week or tender, even if you are only doing very light activities. People have also reported challenges in moving up stairs or handling objects that they could handle before.
4. Complaints about bones and lower back pain
Having enough vitamin D in your body lets you absorb calcium which is important for strong bones. If you don’t get enough calcium, your bones may become weak and brittle as time passes. Early symptoms may be either a dull or a sharp ache in your lower back or joints. If not handled, a calcium deficiency might raise your chance of getting fractures or osteoporosis.
5. Depression
Many studies suggest that a lack of vitamin D is related to developing depression and other mood disorders. It’s possible that a deficiency in vitamin D can disturb the function of serotonin, a brain chemical connected to mood. Low vitamin D could be the reason you’re extra irritable if this happens only during the winter.
6. My hair is loss or thinning out.
Apart from stress or genetics, a lack of important nutrients in the diet may lead to losing hair. Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to alopecia areata, an illness where the immune system attacks the hair. It’s possible that not having enough vitamin D can gradually lead to thinning of hair and slower growth.
7. Taking A Long Time To Recover
Longer healing times could signal that more is going on in your blood. Vitamin D helps the body fight inflammation and supports the growth of new skin cells. When your white blood cells cannot increase quickly, your skin is at a greater risk of getting infected and developing scars.
8. Bones break more easily as people age.
With age, your bones tend to become less dense. But low levels of vitamin D can make joint damage more rapid. If your doctor tells you about low bone density or breaking bones often, you should check your vitamin D levels. Calcium is important, but our bones need vitamin D too.
9. Gaining weight or facing problems losing excess weight
Though vitamin D doesn’t make a person gain weight, low levels might result in a person storing more fat and burning calories slowly. Trouble with weight loss and a tendency to gain excess weight are sometimes the first signs of vitamin D deficiency. Taking care of your vitamin D supply may make it feel easier to lose weight.
Why Do Vitamin D Deficiencies Occur?
A vitamin D deficiency can develop for a variety of reasons. A lot of people in cold climates or those who rarely go outside get less exposure to the sun. Other high-risk individuals are those who have dark skin (so the UV rays do not pass through), are aging or have certain illnesses that reduce nutrient uptake.
The foods you eat make a difference too. Only a few foods are a good source of vitamin D and some people may not take in enough fortified foods like milk and cereal to get the vitamin they need.
How to Know When to See a Doctor
If several of these symptoms sound familiar, it’s best to seek help from your medical specialist. You can find out your vitamin D levels with a simple blood test. When necessary, your doctor will suggest taking supplements, making changes to your diet or getting additional sun exposure.
You shouldn’t try to diagnose yourself or take too much vitamin D at once, since too much can also be dangerous. Making sure there is a good balance is most important.
Final Thoughts
Despite showing no strong symptoms, vitamin D deficiency can have effects on your immune system and mood. Thankfully, spotting and handling it is simple as long as you seek proper medical care. Noticing your body’s cues helps you gain energy, make your bones better and feel overall healthier.
