Fighting Fatigue with Vitamin D

True fatigue is more than just being tired. If you have ever experienced fatigue, you know it’s more than just afternoon drowsiness. According to the National Institutes of Health, fatigue is described as both a lack of energy and motivation. Fatigue can be a very common symptom of many disease processes, however, more recently attention has been given to fatigue caused by Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is actually a hormone called calcitriol that targets over 2000 cells in the human body. Vitamin D deficiency has been shown to be a major factor in cancer, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, fatigue, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, muscle wasting, birth defects, periodontal disease, and more. Vitamin D deficiency can be easily detected in blood tests by obtaining levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. You can get healthy doses of vitamin D by consuming fish, eggs, fortified milk, and cod liver oil. Also, by exposing your skin to regular sunlight, you can increase levels of Vitamin D in your body.  Supplemental vitamin D is fat-soluble (meaning you can overdose) and because it can interact with certain medications, always consult your chiropractor before taking Vitamin D supplements. Fatigue can be a real issue in your life, costing you time and money. It can also affect your production at work and the quality of your life with your kids, and your friends and family. If you think you might be experiencing these problems, please talk to us soon to figure out what exactly is causing your fatigue.

-Dr. Manley