Vitamin D eased his chronic pain

I've had chronic pain in my lower back, pelvis, hips and legs for nearly four years. Lying flat was agony, so I slept propped up in a love seat.

I went to many doctors who said there was nothing wrong with me. Then I found a rheumatologist who checked my vitamin D level and found it was extremely low. I've been taking 1,600 IUs (international units) of vitamin D a day and have been feeling much better and happier.

Vitamin D deficiency is common and is often underestimated as a cause of chronic pain. Low levels of D can contribute to arthritis, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis and high blood pressure. In a society where most people work indoors and wear sunscreen when outside, vitamin D insufficiency may be more common than doctors suspect.







I am 43 and have had high blood pressure for 15 years. I have taken atenolol to control it until recently, when my doctor changed me to a water pill, hydrochlorothiazide.

I had a fasting blood sugar test and it was high (150) for the first time. Could my new pill cause diabetes?

Diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide can raise blood sugar and trigger diabetes in some people. They may raise uric-acid levels and bring on a gout attack. Atenolol is a controversial first-line treatment for high blood pressure because of questions about effectiveness. There are other options to control blood pressure.

Joe Graedon, a pharmacologist, and Teresa Graedon, an expert in medical anthropology and nutrition, can be reached at www.peoplespharmacy.com or care of this newspaper.