10 Warning Signs Of Vitamin D Deficiency and Symptoms

Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are now a global public health problem, It is estimated that more than 40% of american adults, and 1 billion people worldwide have vitamin D deficiency.

Unlike other vitamins, vitamin D function like a hormone, and every single cell in your body has a receptor for it.

People who live near the equator, and get frequent sun exposure, are less likely to be deficient, as their skin produces enough vitamin D to satisfy their bodie's need.

Most people don’t realize that they’re deficient, as symptoms are generally subtle, and may not recognize them easily, Fortunately vitamin D deficiency is easy to fix.

When your skin is exposed to sunlight, it makes vitamin D from cholesterol, Sun’s ultraviolet B rays hit cholesterol in the skin cells, providing the energy for vitamin D synthesis to occur.That is why vitamin D is called “the sunshine vitamin.”

Here I list 10 Warning Signs Of Vitamin D Deficiency and Symptoms.

1. Getting Sick or Infected often.

One of vitamin D’s most important role is, keeping your immune system strong, so you are able to fight off virus and bacteria, that cause illness.It directly interacts with the cells, that are responsible for fighting infection.

If you often become sick, especially with colds or the flu, low vitamin D levels may be a contributing factor.

Several studies have shown a link between vitamin D deficiency, and respiratory tract infections, like colds, bronchitis, and pneumonia.If you seem to catch every cold going around, and get sick a lot, due to low levels of vitamin D, Since it is essential for keeping your immune system strong and healthy. 

It is recommended that, everybody starts to supplement vitamin D in the early autumn, to make sure they have enough vitamin D in the winter.

2. Obesity.

Obesity is another risk factor for vitamin D deficiency. Interestingly, some evidence suggest that, getting enough vitamin D could help with weight loss.

Studies show that higher body mass index, and body fat percentage, are associated with lower blood levels of vitamin D, People with obesity, typically need higher amounts of vitamin D, to maintain adequate levels, and  to correct a deficiency.

3. Painful muscles.

There is some evidence that, vitamin D deficiency may be a potential cause of, muscle pain in children and adults.The vitamin D receptor is present in nerve cells called nociceptors, which sense pain.

People with vitamin D deficiency, exhibit muscle pain in muscles at multiple locations. However, the strongest association between vitamin D deficiency, and pain is reported to occur in leg muscles.
Especially in older people, weak muscles can raise there chances of falling and breaking a bone, It may be a sign of osteoporosis.

Vitamin D also helps our bodies absorb calcium to keep bones, muscles, and teeth healthy and strong, making it even more important to keep topped up.

4. Low Moods and Depression - Brain and moods are interlinked.

Happy hormone (serotonin) falls with lack of sun exposure. Our bodies need vitamin D to activate to effectively make serotonin in the brain. If you feel low or irritable, it could be a sign that, you are deficient in vitamin D.

Experts still do not understand exactly, how Vitamin D works within the human brain, But we know that, our brains are full of Vitamin D receptors,That helps carry out number of functions, including communicating actions with the rest of our body. It is thought that Vitamin D levels can affect parts of the brain, that govern learning, memory, and mood.

5. Sweaty head.

A common sign of vitamin D deficiency is sweaty scalp, (this is one reason new born babies are monitored for head sweats). A sweaty scalp could be an early sign of vitamin D deficiency.
You normally sweat, when your body temperature rises above 98.6, for most of the time this is not a problem.

Sweating is actually good for your health, as it releases toxins buried in the fat cells, underneath the skin. However, excessive sweating may indicate a deficiency in vitamin D .

If you have given birth, you probably remember that, physician asked you several times during the first months of childbirth, "whether your newborn baby has a sweaty head". The reason is simple, sweaty head and excessive sweating is one of the first, and earliest symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.

6. Bone Pain.

Both Bone pain and muscle weakness are the common symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.
Having healthy bones protects you from various conditions including rickets. Rickets is a disorder that causes, children to have bones that are weak and soft. You need vitamin D so that, calcium and phosphorus can be used to build bones, In adults, having soft bones is a condition called osteomalacia. Even after your bones stop growing, they need vitamin D for repair and maintenance.

Vitamin D along with calcium, helps build bones and keep bones strong and healthy. Weak bones can lead to osteoporosis, the loss of bone density, which can lead to fractures.

Either taken orally, or from sunshine exposure is then converted to an active form of the vitamin D, that promotes optimal absorption of calcium from your diet.

Vitamin D’s primary role is to help the body maintain the right levels of calcium and phosphorus. It affects how calcium is absorbed from food, and how the body builds and reabsorbs bone, (a process called bone remodeling, which the body is constantly doing). Studies suggest vitamin D could help prevent fractures, and osteoporosis.

7. Impaired Wound Healing.

Slow healing of wounds after surgery or injury, may be a sign that your vitamin D levels are too low. It is also been suggested that vitamin D's role in controlling inflammation, and fighting infection is important for proper healing.

It found that those with severe vitamin D deficiency were, more likely to have higher levels of inflammatory markers, that can slowdown healing.

8. Fatigue and Tiredness.

If you are not getting enough vitamin D, you may feel completely exhausted even if you get plenty of sleep. Excessive fatigue and tiredness may be a sign of vitamin D deficiency, People who are tired all the time, especially older adults, may not suspect a vitamin D deficiency, that could be draining their energy. Increasing vitamin D levels have been seen to improve from fatigue.

9. Losing Hair.

Vitamin D is metabolized in the skin by keratinocytes, These are skin cells that process keratin, a protein in hair, nails, and skin, When the body doesn’t have enough vitamin D, keratinocytes in hair follicles have trouble regulating hair growth and shedding.

There is a link between vitamin D deficiency and alopecia, and it is often one of the common causes of thinning hair or hair loss in men or women.

10. Heart Problems.

vitamin D deficiency is linked to more serious health risks such as, coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and strokes.

The official journal of the Academy of Family Physicians in India, reports that, patients with low levels of vitamin D, had a 60% higher risk of heart disease, And the Journal of Clinical Hypertension asserts that,  congestive heart failure can be linked to vitamin D deficiency.

Increasing your intake of the vitamin can boost your heart health, and improve your quality of life.