Can low vitamin D cause breathing problems?
Epidemiological and observational studies demonstrate a link between Vitamin D deficiency and risk of developing respiratory diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and tuberculosis (TB).
Independent association
The study stated that after adjusting for potential confounders, low levels of serum vitamin D were found to be "independently associated" with asthma, bronchitis, wheeze and chest tightness. Conversely, higher levels of vitamin D were linked to better lung function.
Specifically in respiratory health, vitamin D deficiency has been shown to increase the risk of upper respiratory tract infections and tuberculosis and to decrease the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) in asthma and wheezing diseases [5].
Symptoms when vitamin D is low
Most people with vitamin D deficiency are asymptomatic. However, if you're exhausted, your bones hurt, you have muscle weakness or mood changes, that's an indication that something may be abnormal with your body.
Symptoms of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency anaemia include: rapid breathing or shortness of breath.
It is well known that vitamin D plays an important role in bone health and the immune system, however, evidence is emerging, which shows that vitamin D levels are associated with better lung function, suggesting it plays an important role in maintaining good respiratory health.
When sudden breathlessness occurs, a number of things could be the cause, which is why you should consult your doctor immediately. For example, an upper airway obstruction, such as a piece of food stuck in your throat, could block your breathing. Some other possible causes include: Carbon monoxide poisoning.
Vitamin E has the function of protecting and preventing respiratory problems, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Lung tissue is restored when the body is adequately supplemented with vitamin E, even rebuilding lung capacity, contributing to reducing breathing problems.
TREATMENT OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY IN CHRONIC LUNG DISEASE
With regard to vitamin D deficiency, experts have recommended supplementation at much higher doses, with recommendations for 28,000 U on a weekly basis or 50,000 U on a monthly basis (50) depending on the degree of deficiency.
Obesity, polluted environments, and malabsorption syndromes (such as Crohn's disease) are just some factors that can increase the time it takes for vitamin D supplements to increase vitamin D levels. Research has found that vitamin D insufficiency resolved with 12 weeks of weekly high-dose vitamin D.
How long does it take to recover from vitamin D deficiency?
It can take a few weeks for your vitamin D levels to rise once you start taking supplements. Expect a 4-6 week recovery time if you don't have any underlying health issues that could slow down the recovery phase. You may be able to speed up the recovery process by: Spending time in the sunshine.
In general, some individuals may start to notice improvements in their Vitamin D levels within a few weeks of starting supplementation, while for others, it may take a bit longer. It's essential to be patient and consistent with your supplement regimen to allow your body to absorb and utilize Vitamin D effectively.
People with anemia may experience shortness of breath when there aren't enough red blood cells to transport oxygen. Untreated, it can cause other complications. Anemia is a blood disorder that can be short term or chronic.
Deficiencies in cobalamin (vitamin B12) can result in diminished energy and exercise tolerance, together with fatigue and shortness of breath. These hematologic symptoms regress and disappear with supplementation with vitamin B12, for which doses and routes will depend on the cause and severity of deficiency [109].
Anemia is a problem of not having enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the body's tissues. Hemoglobin is a protein found in red cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all other organs in the body. Having anemia can cause tiredness, weakness and shortness of breath.
Vitamin D can influence all three innate immune effectors in the lungs and thus may play an important role in how the lung recognizes and responds to pathogens. Activation of the innate immune system drives activation of the long term adaptive immune system (Iwasaki and Medzhitov 2010).
(10) included 11 randomized placebo-controlled trials with 5660 individuals (average age was 16 years, ranging from 6 months to 75 years). The summarized results showed that vitamin D supplementation significantly decreased the risk of respiratory tract infections (odds ratio [OR]: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.49, 0.84; p=0.0014).
Several other studies also found that Vitamin D deficiency may lead to an increase in the frequency of asthma and attacks of wheezing and necessitate more medications. [8,9] It is clear that Vitamin D protects children against viral infections and the exacerbation of asthma.
- obesity or being unfit.
- poorly controlled asthma.
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – permanent damage to the lungs usually caused by years of smoking.
Shortness of breath does not always indicate that you are hypoxic. In other words, your level of dyspnea, or air hunger, does not always correlate with your oxygen saturation. This means that you can be short of breath, even extremely short of breath, even in the presence of normal oxygen saturation.
What drink helps lungs?
- Green tea. Green tea is rich in antioxidants called catechins, which may have anti-inflammatory and protective effects on lung tissue.
- Turmeric Milk. ...
- Warm water with lemon. ...
- Honey and warm water. ...
- Pineapple juice. ...
- Beetroot juice. ...
- Garlic-infused water.
Deep breathing exercises may help increase lung capacity. For instance, the British Lung Foundation say that deep breathing can help clear mucus from the lungs after pneumonia, allowing more air to circulate. To perform this exercise: Breathe deeply 5–10 times, then cough strongly a couple of times, and repeat.
Some of the best supplements for lung repair include N-acetylcysteine (NAC), omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and magnesium.
Supplementation with 800 to 1000 IU/d of vitamin D or 50,000 IU monthly is safe for most people and can ensure levels of vitamin D within the optimal range. This intake is within the currently recommended safe upper tolerable limit for vitamin D of 2000 IU/d for those aged 1 year and older.
Currently, vitamin D is regarded as a sort of medicine which can play an important role for COPD patients and has certain related systemic effects (6). Furthermore, due to its effects on gene regulation, vitamin D has protective effects against pulmonary diseases (7).
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