It’s been cold and snowy and pretty dreary outside. Northeastern weather has always been less than pleasant during this time of year, and has made even leaving your house a pain in the neck. But who knew the weather can be affecting certain vitamin levels in your body? To be more specific, people in the Northeast have been experiencing varying degrees of vitamin-D deficiencies.

Vitamin-D is primarily gained through sun exposure; ultraviolet-B rays contain it and it is absorbed through the skin. Up here in the Northeast, sun exposure is very limited due to our long winters and abundance of cloudy days. So, because of this, many people have been experiencing adverse effects from having low levels of vitamin-D in their bodies. These effects can range from mild muscle weakness to different types of cancer (like colon or prostate), and lacking this vitamin may even make you more prone to developing certain types of autoimmune disorders (like inflammatory bowel disease or multiple sclerosis).

The reason why vitamin-D is so important is because it acts as a type of hormone in the body. Our cells even have vitamin-D receptors. After it is ingested into the body, the liver and kidneys convert it into vitamin-D3. It’s used for much more than just keeping healthy bones; it’s used in different tissues in the body to maintain healthy function. It also helps fight off infections. So, without it, you may find yourself being able to break bones easier, and you may be getting sick more often. The following are some, but not all symptoms from having a vitamin-D deficiency, according to healthline.com: muscle/joint pain and weakness, bone pain, tiredness or fatigue, depression

There are also certain factors, both controllable and uncontrollable, that may cause you to develop this deficiency. Some of these could be: Living in northern latitudes, Having a vegan diet, Obesity, Having a digestive disorder, Having darker skin (less UV-B rays are absorbed), Having chronic kidney disease.

There are plenty of ways to supplement your vitamin-D intake, like eating foods that contain it, or taking it in its vitamin pill form. The best way to receive it, however, is through sunlight, so maybe opening your curtains a little bit won’t hurt.