The feeling of being run down all the time can creep up and take over your life. You go to bed tired, one thing after another all day at work, and you’re running on a caffeine high and still can’t seem to get your energy back. And then the illnesses start. The cold lasts longer than it should. One more sore throat a few weeks later. The general feeling that your body is just not bouncing back like it used to.
When this starts to happen, the typical reaction is that it’s stress. Your job has been crazy. You haven’t been sleeping well. Life has just been really hard. And that’s probably the case. But at the same time, there is a physical explanation for all of this that hasn’t been checked out. And that physical explanation is that you may have low vitamin D.
At Heme On Call, we see a lot of patients with unexplained fatigue or frequent illness where vitamin D status may be on the list of contributing factors.
Vitamin D is not something that gets a lot of attention unless you’re talking about it with someone else and you’re discussing bone health. And even then, it’s not something that really enters into the conversation unless you’re talking about people who are getting older. But the fact of the matter is that vitamin D plays a role in the way that your immune system works, the way that your muscles work, and the way that your body responds to inflammation.
And the way that it manifests is so subtle at first and then more and more so over time. The problem is that vitamin D doesn’t really have any one big symptom. Instead, it has a series of small problems that have absolutely nothing to do with each other. You don’t have enough energy.
You get sick all the time. You don’t heal well. You just don’t feel like yourself. Because all of those things are common problems and so easily written off, people can go for years without even knowing that they have low vitamin D.
Why Vitamin D is Important for Your Body
Vitamin D, also known as the “sunshine vitamin,” is a nutrient that is produced in your body when you are out in the sun. It is also obtained through food and supplements. The idea behind vitamin D and the sun is that more sun means more vitamin D. However, how it functions in the body is more complex than that.
Vitamin D is important in many functions in your body. It helps maintain healthy bones by controlling calcium, assists in how your body fights infections, and research has shown it can play a role in muscle strength, mood, and heart health. When it is deficient in your body, it can cause fatigue, weakness, and frequent infections.
The body is able to make vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sunlight. This process, known as vitamin D production, is dependent on a number of factors, including location, season, skin color, age, and the amount of time spent under the sun. Vitamin D can also come from foods that have vitamin D, food fortified with vitamin D, and vitamin D supplements.
There are two major forms that are used in supplements:
- Vitamin D2
- Vitamin D3, which is often more effective at supporting vitamin D levels in the blood
Despite these sources, however, many people fail to get enough vitamin D to reach vitamin D sufficiency, particularly in the fall and winter months, or when they are not exposed to the sun.
Since vitamin D has so many functions in the body, a deficiency in it can go unnoticed in your body for a long time. You can overlook it and assume that the symptoms are simply the result of daily life stress and a cold winter. However, vitamin D deficiency is more common and more hidden than you might think.
Deficiency Symptoms That Could Suggest Low Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency is more common than most people actually know. Modern lifestyles play a large role in this.
For example, you may find that when you wake up in the morning, you feel as though you did not really sleep well, even though you did get a full night’s worth of sleep. Another example is that you may be worried that you do not have enough energy in your afternoons, or that you have a cold that is lingering longer than it normally would.
These are just a few examples, but there are many different concerns a person may have from time to time. While there are many reasons a person may experience these problems, a lack of vitamin D is one potential cause.
Some of the symptoms that have been associated with a lack of vitamin D:
- Excessive fatigue or a general feeling of a lack of energy.
- Respiratory infections.
- Weakness in the muscles.
- Pain in the bones.
- A general feeling of being down or becoming easily irritated.
- Difficulty recovering from an illness.
It should be noted that these kinds of problems are not necessarily caused by a vitamin D deficiency. There are many different factors that can lead to these kinds of problems.
Low vitamin D is often accompanied by symptoms that are very easy to ignore. These symptoms may develop gradually and may be attributed to stress, aging, or lack of sleep.
These symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are often similar to problems with feeling tired and immune system problems caused by other conditions. Because of this overlap, it is impossible to simply determine that someone is vitamin D-deficient based on symptoms alone.
Who Suffers More from not Getting Enough Vitamin?
People suffering from vitamin D deficiency are not all affected the same way or manner. Some people are at a greater risk for vitamin D deficiency due to lifestyle, health, or age.
Individuals who are more likely to have low levels of vitamin D are older people, people who don’t get much sun, people who choose to avoid sunlight because they fear the risk of skin cancer, and people with darker skin pigmentation. People with digestive or absorption problems may also be unable to absorb vitamin D efficiently, even when intake appears adequate.
Geography also matters. People who live in the northern regions may not be able to get enough vitamin D from sunlight for much of the year. People working indoors and people who cherish that lifestyle of always staying indoors also bring down their exposure to the sun to a minimum. Understanding who is at risk helps to prevent unnecessary worry while ensuring the right people are screened properly.
When Vitamin D Intake May Not Be the Cause
Fatigue and frequent illness are caused by many factors. Even in cases where vitamin D deficiency is associated with symptoms, it may not be the only problem.
Other causes of low energy or being frequently sick may include:
- Iron deficiency or anemia.
- Thyroid conditions.
- Chronic inflammation.
- Poor sleep quality.
- High stress levels.
- Other nutritional deficiencies.
A person‘s vitamin D status might be normal, and they would still suffer from these symptoms. This is why testing for vitamin D deficiency should never be a substitute for getting a complete medical evaluation. Symptoms alone are not diagnostic. Vitamin D should be considered as an element of a much larger picture of health, not as a single explanation.
Low Energy and the Effects of Low Vitamin D
One of the most commonly reported symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, and also the least specific, is low energy. When vitamin D levels are low, the effects of vitamin D on muscles and energy regulation may be disrupted. Commonly, low vitamin D levels can be characterized by:
- Ongoing fatigue that does not get better with rest
- Muscle weakness or heaviness
- Decreased stamina while going about daily activities
Research has shown that vitamin D deficiency may be associated with reduced physical performance and reduced recovery time. In severe cases, the deficiency is so serious that it affects basic movement and strength.
This does not mean that vitamin D is always the cause of fatigue, but it may be something that contributes to the problem and is worth evaluating.
The Next Steps You Should Take If You Notice Vitamin D Deficiency
If someone has persistent fatigue or frequent illness, a step-by-step approach is usually best. Guessing or self-treatment may lead to missing the diagnosis or to unnecessary supplementation.
Testing is the only surefire way of knowing vitamin D status. A blood test measures vitamin D levels in the bloodstream and helps determine whether they are low, insufficient, or adequate.
If deficiency is confirmed, a healthcare provider may recommend dietary changes, lifestyle changes, or a vitamin D supplement. The appropriate dosage of vitamin D is dependent on baseline levels, age, and overall health.
It is not recommended to take high doses of vitamins without any guidance. Vitamin D is fat-soluble, and vitamin D toxicity may result from continued intake too high for prolonged periods.
At Heme On Call, we assist patients in assessing fatigue and immune issues through careful testing and evidence-based care. You can learn more about our clinical services on our website.
What Low Energy and Frequent Illness Can Mean for You
Vitamin D is an important fat-soluble vitamin with broad effects on the body. It works with calcium to ensure healthy bones, helps maintain healthy muscles, and supports the immune system. When the body lacks vitamin D, some people may notice certain symptoms, while others may not notice any noticeable changes.
Because factors that affect vitamin D absorption through sun exposure can vary, a detailed evaluation of a person’s vitamin D status is a critical component of their care.
With a detailed evaluation, you will be able to:
- Identify whether your symptoms, such as low energy levels or increased infections, may be related to vitamin D deficiency.
- Determine if you are deficient, insufficient, or have enough vitamin D.
- Understand how your risk of deficiency is affected by your age, your diet, sun exposure, and any medical conditions you have.
- Identify if you need supplements, which type to take, and how to avoid toxicity caused by taking too much or the wrong dose of a vitamin D supplement.
- Find out if your diet, along with foods rich in vitamins, will be enough to ensure you have enough vitamin D.
We at Heme On Call will help you move beyond the symptoms with a detailed process of care, appropriate screenings to identify if you have a deficiency of vitamin D, and blood tests to identify your vitamin D levels. This will help you identify if you need a supplement, if you need to increase your supplement dose, or if you need to avoid taking too much of a supplement.
Instead of making assumptions and trying to treat your symptoms on your own, a detailed medical evaluation will help you identify if vitamin D is a factor in your symptoms, among other conditions. Contact us today to learn more about our services.
