Vitamin D is a vitamin with multiple health benefits. It is most famously used to treat and/or prevent a variety of bone diseases including rickets, osteoporosis, some types of bone loss, and osteogenesis imperfecta. Vitamin D is also used to strengthen the immune system and prevent cancer and autoimmune disorders. It can also be used to treat disorders of the blood vessels and heart like high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It can also help people with obesity, diabetes, premenstrual syndrome, and diseases of the teeth and gums. Vitamin D shots offer so many benefits, and they are commonly used to combat Vitamin D deficiency.
How Do You Get Vitamin D?
The simplest way to get Vitamin D is to stay outside in the sun; about 80 to 90 percent of the Vitamin D the body uses comes from sunlight. Small amounts of Vitamin D are found in fatty fish like tuna, mackerel, and herring. It can be added to juices, cereals, and dairy products that are then described as “fortified with Vitamin D.” Since so many people out there struggle with Vitamin D deficiency, Vitamin D shots are becoming more and more popular, and they may be just what you have been looking for.
How Common is Vitamin D Deficiency?
Vitamin D deficiency is actually fairly common. It is particularly common in people who live in northern areas where staying outdoors in the sun is not always possible. It can occur in warmer climates, too, as people cover up or use sunscreen to protect themselves from skin cancer. Dark-skinned people are also more likely to develop Vitamin D deficiency simply because it takes them longer to absorb Vitamin D from the sun.
People over 65 are also vulnerable to Vitamin D deficiency. They have fewer receptors in their skin to absorb Vitamin D, and their kidneys are less efficient at converting dietary Vitamin D into a useful form. Older people tend to spend less time outside in the sun than do younger people.
What are the Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency?
Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency that can occur in adults can include the following:
• Bone pain
• Difficulty thinking clearly
• Frequent fractures
• Unexplained fatigue
• Weakened muscles
Vitamin D deficiency can also cause such complications as the following:
• Increased risk of infection due to a weakened immune system
• Thinner and more brittle bones
• Insulin resistance that impairs the body’s ability to use insulin in processing blood sugar
How is Vitamin D Deficiency Addressed?
Our team at Simply Slim Medical will start by taking the patient’s medical history. We may conduct a number of tests and ask certain questions in order to determine if Vitamin D shots can truly benefit the patient. With offices in Bethesda and Falls Church, we also serve men and women in the DMV and Tysons Corner, VA areas. Contact us today to schedule a consultation to see if Vitamin D shots can work for you!