Fwd: FSR Reply-Vitamin D

[Guest guest]

I sent a note to FSR ask the professionals about calcium and Vit D. This is the response I got.

Tracie

NS Co-owner/moderator************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

Thank you for taking the time to contact the Foundation for SarcoidosisResearch (FSR), the leading nonprofit organization dedicated toimproving care for sarcoidosis patients and to finding a cure for thisdisease. At FSR, we believe that the cause of this disease, andultimately a cure, will be uncovered through rigorous and extensivescientific research.Sarcoidosis is a multi-system disorder. Symptoms typically depend onwhich organ the disease affects. The lungs are affected in more than90% of patients with sarcoidosis. A cough that does not go away,shortness of breath and chest pain occur most frequently with thepulmonary form of the disease. Sarcoidosis can, however, affect almostany organ in the body. An organ is affected when granulomas (masses ofinflamed tissue, or lumps) form and cause an abnormality. Morecomprehensive information can be found on the 'Symptoms' page of our Website: http://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/sarcoidosis/symptoms.htm.A scale, from Stage 0 to Stage 4, is used to classify chest x-rays takento detect sarcoidosis. X-ray stages do not tell the severity of thedisease. However, in general the higher the stage of the x-ray, theworse the person's symptoms and lung function. Stage 0 is a normal chestx-ray and Stage 4 shows scars (or fibrosis) in the lung tissue. There isa lot of individual variation, and persons at Stages 0 through 3 may ormay not have symptoms. For more information on what each stage means,talk to your doctor or read the FSR handout on Diagnosis for moreinformation, found on-line at:http://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/sarcoidosis/diagnosis.htm.In response to your questions about vitamin D, some patients withsarcoidosis may have increased vitamin D in their blood, placing them atrisk for a condition called hypercalcemia, or elevated calcium in theblood. Although vitamin D is important for calcium absorption andhealthy bones, excessive levels of vitamin D can actually increaseosteoporosis risk. If you have sarcoidosis, talk to your doctor beforetaking supplements and ask about a blood test for calcium levels. Inall cases, good communication with your doctor may mean that yourtreatment plan is more successful.It may be helpful to print-out information on symptoms and diagnosisfrom this and other Web sites and bring it with you to your next visitto discuss. If information seems to contradict with your doctor'sadvice, ask him to clarify the differences in the information. Tips fortalking with your doctor can be found at:http://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/patientresources/doctor.htm.You will now receive our monthly email newsletter, which includesresearch updates, as well as a packet of information by USPS mail.Thank you for your interest. If we can be a resource to you in thefuture, please do not hesitate to contact us again.Regards,Foundation for Sarcoidosis ResearchDonations help support research and education - learn more by visiting:http://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/donate/

From: tiodaat@... Sent: Thu 5/31/2007 3:09 AMTo: InformationSubject: Message sent to you from CONTACT US page on STOPSARCOIDOSIS.ORG

Title: Mrs.First Name: TracieLast Name: FeldhausAddress 1: 14123 Wingate CircleAddress 2: City: MagaliaState: CAZip Code: 95954Country: Email: tiodaat@...Message Body:How does Vit D and sunlight effect sarcoidosis? Is it dangerous for us to be out in the sun (with sunscreen of course), or are we making our disease worse?

[Guest guest]

This is great Tracie. Thanks for all you do!Blessings,Beckytiodaat@... wrote: I sent a note to FSR ask the professionals about calcium and Vit D. This is the response I got. Tracie NS Co-owner/moderator************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. Subject: FSR Reply-Vitamin DDate: Thu, 31 May 2007 12:18:21 -0400To: Message sent to you from CONTACT US page on STOPSARCOIDOSIS.ORG Thank you for taking the time to contact the Foundation for SarcoidosisResearch (FSR), the leading nonprofit organization dedicated toimproving care for sarcoidosis patients and to finding a cure for thisdisease. At FSR, we believe that the cause of this disease, andultimately a cure, will be uncovered through rigorous and extensivescientific research.Sarcoidosis is a multi-system disorder. Symptoms typically depend onwhich organ the disease affects. The lungs are affected in more than90% of patients with sarcoidosis. A cough that does not go away,shortness of breath and chest pain occur most frequently with thepulmonary form of the disease. Sarcoidosis can, however, affect almostany organ in the body. An organ is affected when granulomas

(masses ofinflamed tissue, or lumps) form and cause an abnormality. Morecomprehensive information can be found on the 'Symptoms' page of our Website: http://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/sarcoidosis/symptoms.htm.A scale, from Stage 0 to Stage 4, is used to classify chest x-rays takento detect sarcoidosis. X-ray stages do not tell the severity of thedisease. However, in general

the higher the stage of the x-ray, theworse the person's symptoms and lung function. Stage 0 is a normal chestx-ray and Stage 4 shows scars (or fibrosis) in the lung tissue. There isa lot of individual variation, and persons at Stages 0 through 3 may ormay not have symptoms. For more information on what each stage means,talk to your doctor or read the FSR handout on Diagnosis for moreinformation, found on-line at:http://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/sarcoidosis/diagnosis.htm.In response to your questions about vitamin D, some patients withsarcoidosis may have increased vitamin D in their blood, placing them atrisk for a condition called hypercalcemia, or elevated calcium in theblood. Although vitamin D is important for calcium absorption andhealthy bones, excessive levels of vitamin D can actually increaseosteoporosis risk. If you have sarcoidosis, talk to your doctor beforetaking supplements and ask about a blood test for calcium levels. Inall cases, good communication with your doctor may mean that yourtreatment plan is more successful.It may be helpful to print-out information on symptoms and diagnosisfrom this and other Web sites and bring it with you to your next visitto discuss. If information seems to contradict with your doctor'sadvice, ask him to

clarify the differences in the information. Tips fortalking with your doctor can be found at:http://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/patientresources/doctor.htm.You will now receive our monthly email newsletter, which includesresearch updates, as well as a packet of information by USPS mail.Thank you for your interest. If we can be a resource to you in thefuture, please

do not hesitate to contact us again.Regards,Foundation for Sarcoidosis ResearchDonations help support research and education - learn more by visiting:http://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/donate/ From: tiodaat@... Sent: Thu 5/31/2007 3:09

AMTo: InformationSubject: Message sent to you from CONTACT US page on STOPSARCOIDOSIS.ORG Title: Mrs.First Name: TracieLast Name: FeldhausAddress 1: 14123 Wingate CircleAddress 2: City: MagaliaState: CAZip Code: 95954Country: Email: tiodaat@...Message Body:How does Vit D and sunlight effect sarcoidosis? Is it dangerous for us to be out in the sun (with sunscreen of course), or are we making our disease worse?

Ready for the edge of your seat? Check out tonight's top picks on Yahoo! TV.