Vitamin D: Why You Should Care


Vitamin D Deficiency

Everyone should know how much vitamin D they have in their blood and here at Walkinlab.com we want to tell you why. A number of studies have been carried out in recent years that show just how important vitamin D is to the body. In addition to the studies that outline the importance of vitamin D, some conservative estimates show that as many as 75 percent of all people have a vitamin D deficiency. To combat this, an expansive industry has sprung up to help individuals keep optimum levels of vitamin D in their body as well as schedule a blood test that could potentially save their life. Here is a closer look at how a vitamin D deficiency will affect one’s body and how a quick and painless blood test or comprehensive lab test could detect a number of serious health issues connected to vitamin D deficiencies’ earliest stages.

The easiest manner in which a patient can reverse their vitamin D deficiency is through moderate amounts of sunlight exposure. While excessive exposure will increase one’s levels of Vitamin D, it is not always enough and can increase your chances of cancer. After the lab test has determined a deficiency, the amount of time that one must spend out in the sun is determined by their genetics, skin color, what time of year it is, and where in the globe they are located. There are also a number of foods that contain high levels of vitamin D ranging from fatty fishes and cod liver oil to margarine and various beef products. When these methods are not enough it is important to supplement the body with the vitamin to maintain optimum levels of the nutrient and keep yourself healthy and immune from illness. However, it is impossible to know how deficient you are are without a lab test.

Those that fail to schedule a lab or a vitamin D deficiency blood test will dramatically increase their risk of serious health complications beginning with rickets. This disorder will weaken one’s bones and could stunt a child’s growth or lead to permanent ailments throughout their life. Failing to detect a deficiency in its earliest stages through a blood test will also increase one’s risk of osteoporosis, arthritis, bronchitis, tooth decay and psoriasis. Many studies also show that a vitamin D deficiency could be a primary factor in breast and colon cancer.

A vitamin D deficiency blood test only takes a few moments and the results are often given back to the patient in days. The comprehensive blood work will accurately portray how much vitamin D is in one’s system and if supplements will be necessary. This particular lab test also has an added benefit, and that is the detection of cancerous tumors in their earliest stages. A vitamin D deficiency blood test will not only lead to a healthier life, it could also save the patient’s life.