Sunlight is a reliable source of Vitamin D, but during the winter it is harder to get enough exposure because there are fewer daylight hours. It’s also more difficult for people with darker skin, and anyone older than 50, to convert sunshine into Vitamin D.
StarMed Healthcare is offering free Vitamin D shots at its clinic at 4001 Tuckaseegee Road in west Charlotte. There is a designated drive-thru area at the clinic for fast, easy treatment.
Vitamin D has several benefits, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Vitamin D helps the immune system resist bacteria and viruses, which could help protect against COVID-19.
- Vitamin D builds strong bones by helping the body absorb calcium. This helps protect older adults from osteoporosis.
- Vitamin D is required for muscle and nerve functions.
Here are some statistics about how much Vitamin D can help you:
- The elderly are 11 times more likely to have depression with low levels of Vitamin D.
- Reduces the risk of breast cancer by up to 83 percent
- Reduces the risk of multiple sclerosis by up to 54 percent
- Reduces the risk of heart attacks in men by up to 30 percent
- Reduces the risk of fractures by up to 50 percent
Low levels of Vitamin D have been associated with the following:
- Increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease
- Cognitive impairment in older adults
- Severe asthma in children
- Colon, prostate, and breast cancer
- Poor outcomes in a COVID-19 infection and other viral infections
- Diabetes
- Multiple sclerosis
- Anxiety and depression
The Vitamin D injections are available at StarMed for adults and children from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.