Calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth, proper muscle, brain and nerve function, and normal release of hormones. The National Dairy Council recommends three servings of low- or non-fat dairy foods in your diet each day to ensure you meet your daily calcium requirement. Too much of a good thing, however, can be harmful to your health.
Hypercalcemia
When blood calcium levels are too high, it results in a condition known as hypercalcemia. The most common cause of hypercalcemia is a condition known as hyperparathyroidism, or an enlarged parathyroid gland. The parathyroid gland regulates calcium in the body. When abnormality occurs, the gland secretes too much parathyroid hormone--or PTH, resulting in too calcium in the blood. Other causes of hypercalcemia are failure of the adrenal gland, high levels of vitamin D in the blood, hyperthyroidism and kidney failure.
Symptoms
A person with hypercalcemia may exhibit symptoms such as excessive thirst, frequent urination, muscle pain and weakness, constipation, lethargy, abdominal pain, loss of appetite and confusion. The effects of too much calcium can be detrimental and potentially life-threatening.
Osteoporosis
According to the Mayo Clinic website, prolonged hypercalcemia can lead to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is condition in which the bones do not get enough calcium. This causes thinning of the bones, making them more fragile and easy to fracture and break. Osteoporosis can cause a loss of height and curvature of the spinal column.
Kidney Function
Excess calcium in the urine can cause kidney stones to develop. Kidney stones can damage the kidney, and passing them are often very painful. Prolonged hypercalcemia puts a strain the kidney and its ability to efficiently detoxify the blood and eliminate fluid. This can lead to kidney failure if damage to the kidney is severe.
Nervous System
Calcium is instrumental in the proper function of the nervous system. Excessive calcium levels in the bloodstream can lead to dementia, confusion and coma which can be potentially fatal.
Arrhythmia
Too much calcium can disrupt your heart's electrical impulses that control its heart rhythm, causing it to beat irregularly.
Treatment
Treatment to restore normal calcium levels requires diagnosing and treating the cause. Treatment options may include administering intravenous fluids to treat dehydration, calcitonin and glucocorticoids to slow down bone loss/re-absorption and counter the effects of excess vitamin D in the blood and loop diuretics to flush out excess calcium.
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