Get out into the sun this weekend!

Beginning to wonder why we are all so keen just to delay when we get this virus? Whenever we start to mix in any way,it is going to spread, so why not now when, at least, hospital seem to be able to cope with the minority who may need them.
No chance of a vaccine, may never get one -who knows.
Not saying everybody should just return to normal life - but we are just putting off the inevitable, but putting our lives on hold in this way.
Glad to hear that service station loos are open. I really do want to get to see my sister in law whose eldest child died from cancer a couple of weeks ago, and is seriously depressed at present. Only ever use toilets at service stations - always take my own food with me to eat in car. But do usually need a loo stop-over,.
Off today for picnic lunch in park, with my daughter - no cars involved, in reach of both our homes.

Interesting article. It would explain why the virus affects different ethnic groups.
Although I am outside quite a lot I’m generally covered up And have factor 50 on my face and arms. I will get my legs out ASAP.

I've been taking vitamin D for 2years ..initially on prescription..but then decided to just buy it ....but the pharmacy and supermarket shelves are now empty of vitamin d...because of all the articles online and in the newspapers
I dont begrudge anyone buying it...but hope that this isn't another 'stockpiling ' scenario ..

Why buy vitamin D when our bodies manufacture it? Just get outside and expose your skin to the sunshine.

Apologies for the dodgy link JaneA the online DT won’t let me copy and paste in my normal way so I tried googling the article (and got the wrong one)
Emailing the article to myself enabled me to get the link which I hope was the right one.
Anybody would think they were afraid of plagiarism!
And ww3 I am not a touchy bugger as you seem to think. The trivialisation of serious subjects is dispiriting and all too often discussion on GN degenerates into
“Well I do this” or “I did that” which adds nothing apart from enabling the poster to talk about themselves. (Again)
Feel free.

MawB, thanks for the two links. I'm in the shielding group because of the immune suppressants that modify RA. Ive been following the guidelines by getting groceries delivered and not leaving the house but, breaking the guidelines by walking every day.
My GP phoned to do my annual RA review. He was keen to ensure I'm aware of the high level of risk should I get the virus. He also supported me walking providing its possible to maintain the distance. These two Telegraph articles are a positive read for me. I also take VitD and Calcium supplements - excellent news.

Espee, my consultant rheumatologist told me that random tests during February in our area of north west England show the majority of the population to be Vit D deficient. So she prescribes it to her patients. She's a hero of mine and I tend to follow her recommendations as they're based on science and many years as a consultant in RA and its associated friends.

I was going to say something similar Iam64

We cannot obtain enough vitamin D from the sun in the more northern latitudes until about mid-April and then only if the weather is good and we expose parts of our arms and legs to the sun for up to about 20 minutes per day without, of course, using sunscreen for that time. That has to be balanced with other risk factors.

I think there is a surprising number of people who are vitamin D deficient.
It is essential for a healthy functioning immune system.

I cannot sit in the sun, prickly heat, !

I've had that Anniebach, it really is prickly!!

Sorry MawB.
My hand is slapped and I won’t offer any excuses for including loo’s to your serious thread.

Poor absorption of Vitamin D doesn't explain all the increased risk of BAME groups. There's a huge difference between them. I can't find the link just now, but I think I remember that people from an Afro-Caribbean background are the most at risk - higher that those from African backgrounds, while different groups from the Indian subcontinent are at different risk too.

PS. I've taken Vitamin D supplements for about a year, so fingers crossed, although being diabetic is probably a higher risk factor than Vitamin D deficiency :-(. (I think I'll just continue keeping away from other people.)

Esspee Unless you're willing to prance about naked during every daylight hour, it's unlikely that anybody in northern Europe could absorb enough sunlight.

MawB I also,apologise. My first post was directly related to your article as you know.
I then responded to other posts. Mea culpa.

Serious question. How much are we supposed to take?

Posts, as I've frequently read others say, and been told myself, often veer off topic a bit. I really don't think any offence was intended by the lighthearted comments that crept in. I certainly didn't take offence, anyway! ?

I take 1000 IU (25 micrograms) a day, which is supposed to be the maximum. The NHS recommends a much lower dose.

Any more than that could cause toxicity.

If you've actually been diagnosed with a blood test, a doctor will probably prescribe much higher doses for 3 months. I was prescribed 20,000 IU daily.

For various reasons, largely relating to people I know who for years have avoided the sun as far as possible, I’ve often thought that lack of vitamin D could be a contributory factor in many diseases.

As for Scandinavian countries, I do wonder whether their traditional consumption of a lot of oily fish, largely in the form of herrings, could have something to do with whatever health advantages they may possess. A Swedish friend who has now moved back but who lived here for a long time, always had several jars of various pickled herrings in the cupboard - IIRC she used to stock up at every visit to IKEA.

I can't help remembering that only a few years ago we were told not to supplement on vitamins which are fat soluble , like Vit D, unless prescribed. Nowadays we all seem to be encouraged to do just that. What has changed?
Thanks Jennifer re the loos situation and sorry MawB if I too mentioned it but didn't want to start a thread just on this topic.

Suggest that anyone going out for the day and using a bush toilet that they wear a skirt or dress. From experience its far easier to do a wee without everyone passing seeing your bum. Enjoy the sunshine.

I was prescribed folic acid and 400u Vit D twice a day when I started to take the immunosuppressants and Alendronate against ostheoporosis.

Someone I know who was on medication for a serious condition was told that a side effect meant that she must keep right out of the sun, always wear factor 50 and a big hat, etc.

She faithfully did as she was told, but after a year or so she started to feel dreadfully tired and lethargic all the time.
Tests revealed that her Vit D levels were so low, they were practically off the scale - yet nobody had ever told her that she’d need to take supplements.
A major boost of Vit D had her feeling miles better, but IIRC it did take a while.

Here is my hero Dr Malcolm Kendrick on the subject of Vitamin D and Covid-19.
It's rather long but worth persevering.
One of the points he makes is that the dose required to prevent illness (deficiency) is not the same as the dose required for optimal health.
drmalcolmkendrick.org/2020/04/28/covid-update-focus-on-vitamin-d/

I've been taking a vitamin D supplement for several months now. I am borderline for osteoporosis. My sister was diagnosed as severely vitamin D deficient last summer, and was advised to sit out in the sunshine with her arms and legs exposed for 15-20 minutes daily.
She had a "funny cough", to use her words, back at the beginning of March and I'm wondering if it was covid-19. We will never know unless she has an antibody test, and that doesn't seem likely.

Interesting article janeainsworth. I'm off to see how much vitamin D3 is in my supplement.