Vitamin D In COPD!

Vitamin D in COPD

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is characterized by

1) Chronic cough with sputum

2) Breathlessness on exertion & rest

3) Waxing, waning symptoms but a progressive nature of the disease.

COPD is now understood as a Systemic Disease, which affects other organ & function systems of the body also, therefore the idea of complete treatment means looking out for signs of other disorders & correcting them.

How does Vitamin D help?

Vitamin D like other vitamins works a cellular level, providing nutrition & helping out with immunity, growth & activation of simple & complex body mechanisms.

Lately, research has shown that Vitamin D users were more healthy in the aspect of immunity of body and better Lung & Bone function.

Do you need Vitamin D supplementation?

Even in a sunny tropical country of India, the majority of us suffer from Vitamin D deficiency (our dark skin pigmentation & desire to avoid sun & heat, is one of the reasons)

COPD patients may suffer due to poor appetite/diet restrictions (Strictly Vegetarian diet), staying indoors to avoid pollution.

How to know your Vitamin D levels?

The most accurate way to measure how much vitamin D is in your body is the 25-hydroxy vitamin D blood test. A level of 20 nanograms/milliliter to 50 ng/mL is considered adequate for healthy people. A level of less than 12 ng/mL indicates vitamin D deficiency.

What are Vitamin D rich food? 

Foods that provide vitamin D include Fatty fish (tuna, mackerel and salmon), dairy products, orange juice, soy milk, cereals, liver, Cheese & Egg yolks. 

A deficiency can be successfully treated by supplements, but Physician advice for dose & duration is an absolute must.