Health

Vitamins You May Be Lacking if You Live in Florida

Living in the Sunshine State is great for everything from year-round golf to year-round beach activities, and thousands of snowbirds flock to Florida each winter for fun in the sun.

The advantages of living in Florida are plentiful, but there is one disadvantage to which health-conscious Floridians should pay attention: Floridians are at risk for certain vitamin deficiencies.

Vitamin D Deficiency

Vitamin D is naturally produced in our bodies when our skin is directly exposed to the sun’s UVB (ultraviolet B) rays. According to the Vitamin D Council, “in the southern United States, in places like Florida, your body can produce vitamin D most of the year.”

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, adults between the ages of 19 and 70 need at least 600 IU of vitamin D, and those aged 71 and over should get at least 800 IU. This vitamin is essential in the function of your bones, muscles, nerves, and immunity.

It’s best for the body to get most of its vitamin D from foods, such as salmon, liver, tuna, mackerel, cheese, and egg yolks. Many foods are fortified with vitamin D, such as milk, orange juice, and cereals.

Although sun exposure without sunscreen for 10 minutes can help the body produce more than 1,000 IU of vitamin D, this isn’t recommended since it can contribute to skin cancer.

Calcium Deficiency

Like vitamin D, calcium is necessary to maintain healthy bones, muscles, and nerve function. Low calcium might result in diseases like osteoporosis, which causes brittle bones and fragility. The culture in Florida isn’t as focused on drinking milk as it is in northern states, so low calcium levels tend to be a common health issue.

The NIH recommends adult men between the ages of 19 and 70 get at least 1,000 mg of calcium per day. Adult women should also consume this amount until they’re age 51 or over when the NIH recommends women start consuming at least 1,200 mg every day.

Floridians are especially susceptible to calcium deficiency because there is a direct correlation between vitamin D deficiency and a lack of calcium. Vitamin D is essential to calcium absorption in the body.

Important Vitamins and Minerals for the Body

Calcium and vitamin D are the two most common vitamins that are lacking in people living in Florida, but they may also be at risk of having the following deficiencies:

  • Vitamin B-12
  • Iron
  • Iodine
  • Vitamin A
  • Magnesium

How Can I Find Out if I’m Deficient in Vitamins?

Living in Florida and receiving inadequate amounts of vitamin D, calcium, and other vitamins and minerals could result in serious health consequences. If you’d like to find out whether you’re deficient in these essential nutrients and how to get on the road to a healthier body, call the Advanced Medical Clinic today at (561) 434-1935 to schedule an appointment.

You can also fill out our easy-to-use online appointment request form today. Our skilled and caring health professionals at the Advanced Medical Center can explain your options to combat deficiency and help you feel better and more healthy.

What Does Being a Family Medicine Provider Mean?

Health is not only a reflection of the state of your body. It has a great deal to do with you and everything around you. In fact, the World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being”. Your lifestyle, your genetics, your financial situation, your stress level, your workplace environment, the wellbeing of your family – the safety of your community and society in general – are some of the many factors that your family care provider will have knowledge of as he or she guides you to a healthier state. So what exactly does it mean to be a family care provider?

Family Medicine 

Family medicine is a medical specialty that involves the care of individuals and families throughout the lifespan. In each stage of life, people have characteristic risks and unique needs. An infant is completely dependent on others for survival. Toddlers need guidance and encouragement as they learn about their environment and how to interact with others and society. Teenagers are in a stage of rapid growth and development, when positive and negative environmental and social influences can shape their futures. And older adults are faced with the natural challenges associated with aging. A family medicine provider understands each of these stages and is uniquely qualified to promote health, prevent illness, and treat diseases for their patients at all ages.

The Role of the Primary Care Provider

Your family care provider will be the primary care provider for your entire family. Today’s healthcare system is large and complex. When you are healthy, it may be simple to make it to your annual check up. However, staying healthy is a little more complicated. Your primary care provider is the one person in the system that knows you (and your children and spouse) and has your best interest at heart. He or she will not only perform annual exams, but will make sure you have all the recommended screening tests like mammograms or cholesterol levels done. They will also advise you of necessary immunizations to prevent avoidable infections, as well as educate you on a healthy lifestyle.

These are all very important activities to keep you free from illness – strong of mind and body. However, having a primary care provider is even more important when you do get sick. Knowing your medical history, including the medications you take, what works best for you, and what your preferences are, are invaluable when treating someone with an acute illness. You want a provider that you know and trust, to turn to when you are at your most vulnerable.

Benefits of Having a Family Care Provider 

Have you ever had to see a provider that you did not know in an urgent situation? Imagine experiencing a new and concerning symptom – one distressing enough that you feel the need to go to the family medicine provider. If you do not have a family care provider, you can expect to either spend a great deal of time explaining your past history, or at worst, receive treatment based on partial or inaccurate information. A family care provider, as the name would suggest, knows you and your family. You, most likely, have established a good relationship, and have shared your complete medical history. This would also have included your family history, such as any relatives who may have had heart disease, cancer, diabetes, or any other potentially hereditary illnesses.

This provider will be aware of information that you may not realize is important, but that can make a big difference in your recovery, like whether you are married or have children, if you live alone, if you have a support system, whether you have transportation, and whether you are able to get a new prescription filled. Medicine is not only treating disease; it is understanding the needs of each individual patient within their unique environment and set of circumstances, and finding a way to help them achieve their highest level of health.

Your family care provider will also be in touch with your community. Infection and disease often occurs in patterns that are unique to geographical locations. For instance, antibiotics that may be effective against bacteria in Florida may not be the right choice in New Jersey.  Additionally, they will be aware of what is “going around” in the local schools and workplaces. Your family care provider is in the position to protect not only you from injury or illness, but also your spouse or children. He or she will guide you so that you can anticipate potential risks, take action to prevent injury or illness, and recover quickly if you do become ill. Having a family care provider that you know and trust is the first step in securing a healthy and happy life for you and each member of your family.

If you are interested in finding our more about primary care, family medicine, or the services we provide at Advanced Medical, PA, please call us at (561) 434-1935 to request an appointment, or request one online.