Hypoxia occurs (i) when there is less than the normal amount of oxygen in the air inhaled; (ii) when breathing is obstructed, is inadequate, or stops; (iii) when oxygen is not transferred normally from the lungs to the blood; (iv) when the blood cannot carry its normal quota of oxygen; (v) when the flow of blood is inadequate, or stops.
- You’ve noticed unpleasant skin changes
- Your vision improved out of nowhere
- You have unrelenting itchiness
- Your hearing isn’t what it used to be
- You snore like a chainsaw
“Insurance and Medicaid often cover a blood test,” says Carole Beggarly, director of GrassrootsHealth, a non-profit that aims to increase awareness about vitamin D deficiency (and how to fix it). “It’s helpful to be thorough and see where you’re at so you know how much to supplement.” If the assay, the most commonly ordered blood test ordered in the US, finds that you’re low in D, talk to your doctor about supplementation. (It will likely take the form of about 600 to 1,000 IU of vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol, which is chemically the same as the vitamin your body produces with the sun’s help.)
Whether you get pricked or decide to pass, here are the top 5 signs that you might be d-ficient.
- Excessive sweating
- Noticeable—and unexpected—weakness
- Broken bones
- Chronic pain
- A down-in-the-dumps mood