all right [Music] signs and symptoms of vitamin D deficiency vitamin D deficiency is a common problem in the United States and many parts of the world it can cause bone pain muscle weakness and even mood swings it also increases your risk of developing osteoporosis and fractures vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus these minerals help build and maintain strong bones the best source of vitamin D is sunlight but you may need to spend time outside each day in order to get enough sun exposure to meet your needs vitamin D can also be taken
through food the only downside is that it's found in very few foods which can easily lead to developing symptoms of this vitamin deficiency in this video we are going to be talking about the most common symptoms of vitamin D deficiency before we proceed please note that everything mentioned in this video is unbiased fact checked and reviewed by qualified health professionals with that said let's jump in and talk about the 10 vitamin D deficiency symptoms number one weakened immune system vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin because our bodies produce it when exposed to sunlight
the sun converts cholesterol into vitamin D when our skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays but many people don't get enough sun exposure and even if they do sunscreen blocks UV rays that lead to vitamin D synthesis in addition older adults are at risk for low levels of vitamin D because they may have less ability to synthesize this nutrient in response to sunlight exposure than younger people do as we age our skin becomes less efficient at producing vitamin D in response to UV light exposure vitamin D is necessary to support a healthy thriving immune system and
to ward off the flu and even the common cold but if you're prone to getting sick all the time it does not necessarily mean you are deficient in vitamin D however having a vitamin D deficiency might lead to a slower recovery from illnesses because of the body's weakened immune system number two mood swings vitamin D is a steroid hormone that acts as a master switch for more than 200 genes in the body so it makes sense why mood swings are a common symptom associated with this deficiency hormones act as messenger molecules affecting brain and heart
health as well as many other organs if you lack vitamin D there is a much higher chance you may suffer from warm mood swings than someone with adequate or optimal levels that is especially true for women as female hormones are more prone to fluctuate tremendously each month while some may believe that there is nothing you can do to prevent mood swings that is not true a lack of vitamin D may also be a cause of seasonal affective disorder this disorder is a form of depression that usually sets in during the cold winter months where there
is a lack of sunlight number three low energy levels low energy levels can be caused by many things including poor diet lack of exercise and stress however vitamin D deficiency can contribute to this symptom too vitamin D deficiency affects the bones muscles and the entire body as a whole that is the main reason why it can lead to extreme fatigue or exhaustion it could present itself as daytime fatigue for an otherwise healthy person or extreme exhaustion in someone with chronic disease or autoimmunity if you're experiencing any of these symptoms it could be a sign that
you need more vitamin D in your life and if you're highly concerned about your energy levels talk to your doctor about getting tested for it liking our video so far before we move on to the next symptom don't forget to hit the like button and subscribe to our channel so you never miss out on our new informative videos number four weakened Bones the right amount of vitamin D calcium magnesium and Vitamin K is necessary to maintain healthy bones and avoid bone ailments vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium from the intestine which is used to
maintain strong bones and teeth when there's not enough vitamin D your body cannot absorb enough calcium from food or supplements as a result it pulls calcium from the bones causing them to become brittle and weak some bone disorders that may develop because of vitamin D deficiency include more frequent broken bones osteoporosis and an extreme and rare deficiency cases it can also cause rickets bone deterioration over time can lead to more frequent Falls fractures and Bone disorders number five dry skin dry skin is a common symptom of vitamin D deficiency you may notice this as rough
or scaly texture on your skin that makes it look like you have dandruff or eczema it may also itch or feel uncomfortable a new study suggests that vitamin D deficiency may be tied to dry skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis vitamin D deficiency can also cause ichthyosis ichthyosis is a skin disorder that causes dry scaly skin this disorder can occur at any age but it typically appears in younger people it may be isolated involving only the skin or associated with other conditions getting the right amount of vitamin D can help provide the skin with extra
moisture avoiding frequent dryness number six muscle spasms muscle spasms and weakness are two of the most common symptoms of vitamin D deficiency this deficiency can cause muscle cramps but it's not just about muscle pain it can also result in weakness and even paralysis in fact vitamin D deficiency has been linked to Multiple Sclerosis which affects the brain and spinal cord by causing inflammation and nerve damage multiple sclerosis is strongly tied with experiencing muscle weakness and even pain the connection between multiple sclerosis and vitamin D was first made in 1976 when Danish researchers discovered that people
who lived at higher latitudes were more likely to develop multiple sclerosis than those who lived further south and had more sun exposure since then several studies have confirmed that people with low levels of vitamin D are more likely to develop multiple sclerosis than those with normal levels of this nutrient so to maintain healthy muscles vitamin D is essential along with vitamin D you also need to make sure you are getting adequate amounts of magnesium vitamin K and calcium for maximum absorption number seven brittle hair hair health is another factor in vitamin D deficiency because vitamin
D stimulates hair follicles so they can grow well people who are deficient in this vitamin have more hair breakage thinning and overall poor quality of hair a study published in the Journal of cosmetic Dermatology found that women with low levels of vitamin D were more likely to suffer from dry skin and brittle nails than women with normal levels the research found that a deficiency in vitamin D led to reduced levels of keratin which is a protein found in skin and hair the researchers believe that this could explain why people with a lack of vitamin D
have brittle and dry hair other vitamins and micronutrients are also essential to maintain strong healthy hair these vitamins include B vitamins vitamin C vitamin A and iron number eight poor vision vitamin D deficiency may lead to poor vision because it affects your eyes ability to respond properly to light changes if you're deficient in this nutrient your pupils won't constrict properly when you enter a dark room this makes your eyes more likely to become sensitive to harsh light conditions optimal levels of vitamin D are necessary to maintain healing in the cornea of the eye promoting clearer
vision there is emerging research that shows a promising connection between lower vitamin D levels and a higher risk of age-related macular degeneration which is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly a recent study found that people with low levels of vitamin D had nearly twice the odds of having poor vision in fact poor vision was present in one out of five people with low vitamin D levels number nine mouth ulcers the mouth is another area to monitor if you suspect you are deficient in this hormone a deficiency in vitamin D can manifest in the
form of mouth ulcers commonly known as canker sores mouth ulcers are small sores that develop on the inside or outside of your mouth they're usually painful red or white patches that can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks if you maintain good dental hygiene and you still suffer from mouth ulcers it cannot hurt to find out what your vitamin D levels are number 10 bleeding gums bleeding gums are common and can occur from poor dental hygiene side effects of prescribed medication and even a lack of vitamin D vitamin D helps in producing new
blood cells in the body if you have this deficiency then your body will not produce enough blood cells leading to anemia which can also cause bleeding gums when brushing or flossing your teeth you can check if you are deficient in vitamin D by going to a healthcare professional who specializes in nutrition or Integrative Medicine like an acupuncturist or naturopath causes of vitamin D deficiency vitamin D deficiency is usually caused by a lack of exposure to sunlight in general people who live at Northern latitudes above 40 degrees are at greater risk for vitamin D deficiency than
those living nearer the equator dark-skinned people are also more likely to be deficient in this vitamin this is because their darker skin pigment blocks out ultraviolet rays needed for adequate vitamin D production in their skin vitamin D deficiency isn't common in healthy people who get regular exposure to sunlight and eat a balanced diet the vitamin can be found in certain types of fish egg yolks cheese and milk products such as yogurt or fortified cereals by being aware of the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency you may become more aware of the role that vitamin D plays
in your overall health and once you do you can make the necessary adjustments to your diet and lifestyle to get the nutrients and sun exposure needed for Optimal Health so if you're experiencing some or all of the symptoms on this list it may be time for you to schedule a quick blood test to see if you're suffering from vitamin D deficiency enjoyed this video hit the like button and subscribe to our channel for more informative videos like this one thanks for watching your Wellness is our mission [Music] thank you