Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/742965
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | 27 PEAK SEASON T-lymphocytes, the specialized white blood cells that are activated during viral infections, have vitamin D receptors that, when stimulated, help T-cells react to and attack pathogens such as flu or cold viruses. e flu, also known as influenza, tends to peak in King County from January through March. e medical community is beginning to understand, however, that this peak is not because there are more viral pathogens during those months, but rather this is when vitamin D levels in our population tend to be lowest. Why are vitamin D levels low enough in winter to affect our immune systems in such deleterious ways? Well, for two reasons: 1. Location on the globe. As stated before, we need ultraviolet light from the sun to stimulate specialized skin cells to synthesize vitamin D. What most people don't know is that the sunlight needs to hit our skin at a certain angle for this to happen, and our northern latitude in the Pacific Northwest makes this angle impossible to achieve from mid-October through mid-March. So no matter how sunny it may be, or how bare your skin is when you're outside, your body cannot make vitamin D at all during those months. 2. Sunblock. Our bodies are actually able to create enough vitamin D in the summer to last us through winter. All we really need is 15–20 minutes a day of sun exposure on the bare skin of our forearms, upper chest, and face to synthesize 25,000 International Units (IUs) of vitamin D. e use of sunblock, however, significantly decreases our ability to do this—upward of 95 percent! WHAT TO DO With this fuller understanding of vitamin D and our immune system, it's clear that supplementation is necessary for many of us living in the greater Seattle area. Step 1: Get your vitamin D levels checked regularly. Step 2: If the test shows you're low, fill up with supplementation. Weekly vitamin D injections can keep your immune system at full strength as the cold and flu season swirls about. Moreover, vitamin D can play a pivotal role when you feel an illness coming on and reduce its duration and severity. By helping our bodies help themselves, we can achieve and maintain optimal wellness no matter what time of year. Dr. Tressa Pinkleton is a primary-care physician who specializes in chronic health conditions, mental wellness, and preventive care. She utilizes botanical medicine, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, and lifestyle counseling as primary modalities in her practice. She is available at the WAC Wellness Center. " No matter how sunny it may be, or how bare your skin is when you're outside, your body cannot make vitamin D at all during those [mid-October through mid-March] months." The WAC Wellness Center offers vitamin D testing with Dr. Tressa Pinkleton. Assess your risk for vitamin D deficiency and your need for supplementation with a simple blood draw. The Wellness Center also offers weekly vita- min D injections for clients with low vitamin D levels or for those fighting a cold or the flu. Book with the Wellness Center on the 4th Floor: 206.839.4780 or wellness@wac.net. Know your vitamin D level?