Health · Public Health & Disease · 3 hrs ago
Young UK woman collapsed at work before vitamin D deficiency diagnosis
Saskia Reeves-Priestley, a 23-year-old teacher in the UK, collapsed at work after suddenly feeling dizzy, nauseous, hot and experiencing heart palpitations.
She played football four times a week and had felt fit and healthy, with no warning beforehand.
Blood tests found her vitamin D levels were extremely low.
Vitamin D comes from some foods and supplements, but the body makes most of it when sunlight reaches the skin.
Low sunlight can make it harder to produce enough, and skin covering and sunscreen also reduce production; people with darker skin need stronger light to make the same amount.
Nearly a quarter of UK 11- to 18-year-olds were classed as deficient last year, with low levels increasing in some groups, especially girls and young women.
Doctors do not routinely test for vitamin D deficiency, but may offer supplements to people concerned they are at high risk.
Twenty-three-year-old Saskia Reeves-Priestley collapsed while at work.
She later learned that blood tests showed her vitamin D levels were “next to nothing”.
Before collapsing, she felt fit and healthy and played football four times a week.
UK data cited in the report showed nearly a quarter of 11- to 18-year-olds were classed as vitamin D-deficient last year.
- Who
- Saskia Reeves-Priestley, a 23-year-old special educational needs teacher.
- What
- She collapsed at work and was later diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency.
- When
- The date of the collapse is not stated.
- Where
- At her workplace in the UK; the specific location is not stated.
- Why
- The reason for her collapse is not stated. Blood tests later showed her vitamin D levels were “next to nothing”.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Reeves-Priestley felt fit and healthy and played football four times a week.
Reeves-Priestley suddenly collapsed.
Blood tests showed her vitamin D levels were “next to nothing”, and she was diagnosed as vitamin D-deficient.
- Age
- 23
- Occupation
- Special educational needs teacher
- Football
- Played four times a week
- Blood test result
- Vitamin D levels were “next to nothing
- UK deficiency data
- Nearly a quarter of 11- to 18-year-olds were classed as deficient last year
What people are saying
I just felt really dizzy, really nauseous, was having heart palpitations and was really hot,