Everything You Should Know about Vitamin D Test for Your Health
It is important to perform the necessary tests and know your overall health condition. Your doctor can suggest how you can maintain good health and stay protected.
Vitamin D is the nutrient needed for your strong teeth and healthy bones. There are usually two kinds of Vitamin D that are essential for proper nutrition and these include – vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. While the former is available with fortified foods such as milk, breakfast cereals, and several dairy products, the latter is made from your body when you get exposed to direct rays of the sun. Even it is present in some food items which include – eggs and fatty fish such as mackerel, salmon, and tuna.
Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3 have been changed in the form of Vitamin D known as 25 hydroxyvitamin D or 25(OH)D. Vitamin D blood test will detect the level of 25(OH)D present in your blood. Unusual levels of vitamin D may denote nutrition problems, organ damage, bone disorders or other medical conditions.
Other names are 25(OH)D or 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
What is the Vitamin D test used for?
A vitamin D test is generally used to evaluate or screen for bone disorders. It may be used for checking vitamin D levels in people who suffer from severe illnesses such as psoriasis, asthma, and some autoimmune diseases.
Why do I need a vitamin D test?
Your health care provider might ask you to get a vitamin D test done in case you show the symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency. Some of these symptoms are the following:
- Bone softness
- Bone weakness
- Fractures
- Bone malformation (in children)
The test might be ordered if you are at a greater risk for Vitamin D deficiency. Some risk factors are the following:
- Osteoporosis or other bone disorders
- Earlier gastric bypass surgery
- Age as Vitamin D deficiency is common in older adults.
- Have dark complexion
- Obesity
- Lack of exposure to sunlight
- Difficulty to absorb fat in your diet
Besides, breastfed babies might be at more risk when they do not take supplements for Vitamin D.
What usually happens when you perform a vitamin D test?
Vitamin D test is a blood testingwhere your health care professional takes blood sample from the vein in your arms with a small needle. Once the needle gets inserted, a small amount of blood is collected into a test tube. You might feel some sting when the needle will go in or out that requires not more than five minutes.
Do you have to do anything when preparing for the test?
You do not require anypreparation for the vitamin D test.
Are there any risks associated with the test?
There is little risk involved when you want to perform“blood tests near me” at a clinic in your area. You might feel slight bruising or pain where the needle gets inserted, but most symptoms will go away soon.
What does the test results mean?
If the results show some deficiency in vitamin D, it means you are:
- Insufficient exposure to sunlight
- Not enough vitamin D in the diet
- Trouble to absorb vitamin D in your food
The low result means your body is having trouble with vitamin whichmay denote kidney or liver disease.The deficiency of vitamin D is usually treated with dietary changes or other supplements.
If the results denote you have too much vitamin D, then it is mostly due to taking several vitamin pills or other supplements. You have to stop taking these supplements to lessen the levels of vitamin D. Taking excess vitamin D may be the reason for some damage to blood vessels and other organs. You may talk to the health care provider to know what the results actually mean.
Make sure you ask your health care provider about the vitamins, medicines, or supplements you are taking as these can affect your test results. Common search strings like, “private blood test near me” will enable you to find a trustworthy clinic so that you can perform necessary tests on time.
