Numerous conditions can cause calcium to accumulate in the body. According to the Mayo Clinic, hypercalcemia is a condition in which the calcium level in a person's blood is higher than normal. The body needs calcium to help form strong and healthy bones. Calcium also plays a significant role in muscle contraction, hormone release and nervous system functioning. However, certain medical conditions can cause calcium levels in the body to become too high, interfering with these processes.
Primary Hyperparathyroidism
Primary hyperparathyroidism can cause excessive amounts of calcium in the blood. According to the Cleveland Clinic -- one of the top four hospitals in the United States -- primary hyperparathyroidism is a hormonal problem caused by one or more parathyroid glands producing too much parathyroid hormone, or parathormone. Parathyroid glands -- four rice-shaped gland located in the neck, near the thyroid gland -- help regulate blood calcium levels, keeping calcium levels from falling too low. In most cases of primary hyperparathyroidism, only a single gland is affected. The affected gland becomes enlarged and produces too much parathyroid hormone, causing blood calcium levels to increase, due to calcium mobilization from bones. Common signs and symptoms associated with primary hyperparathyroidism include loss of appetite, thirst, frequent urination, lethargy, fatigue, muscle weakness, joint pain and constipation.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis can cause excessive amounts of calcium in the blood. The American Academy of Family Physicians, or AAFP, states that tuberculosis is a Vitamin D-related cause of hypercalcemia. Tuberculosis is a potentially life-threatening infectious disease that usually affects a person's lungs. According to the Mayo Clinic, tuberculosis is spread from person-to-person via respiratory droplets in the air. In most cases, a person who becomes infected with the bacteria that cause tuberculosis will not develop symptoms of the disease. Common signs and symptoms associated with tuberculosis include hypercalcemia, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, fever, night sweats, chills, loss of appetite, excessive coughing, coughing up blood and chest pain. The AAFP states that excessive amounts of Vitamin D -- increased extra-renal conversion of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 to calcitriol, specifically -- is one of the most common causes of hypercalcemia in a person with tuberculosis.
Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis can cause calcium to accumulate in the body. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, or AAFP, sarcoidosis is a multi-systemic disease of unknown origin that can affect any organ system in a person's body. Sarcoidosis is characterized by certain laboratory findings, including hypercalcemia, decreased cellular immunity and hyperglobulinemia -- elevated serum angiotensin converting enzyme levels. Common signs and symptoms associated with sarcoidosis include fatigue, fever, swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, persistent cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, blurred vision and eye pain. Certain risk factors may increase a person's likelihood of developing sarcoidosis, including being between the ages of 20 and 40, being African-American and having a family history of the condition. The AAFP states that the prevalence of sarcoidosis is slightly higher in women than men.
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