Numerous health problems are associated with low blood calcium levels. According to the University of California San Francisco Medical Center, calcium which helps build strong bones and teeth, is important for heart function and assists with muscle contraction, nerve signaling and blood clotting. Serum calcium is the amount of calcium found in the non-red blood cell portion of your blood. Certain medical conditions can cause difficulty maintaining your serum, or blood, calcium levels.
Hypoparathyroidism
Hypoparathyroidism is a health condition that can cause problems maintaining your blood calcium levels. According to the Mayo Clinic, if you have hypoparathyroidism, your body secretes unusually low levels of parathyroid hormone, or parathormone. Parathormone plays an important role in balancing your body's levels of calcium and phosphorus. Decreased production of parathormone causes abnormally low calcium levels in your blood and bones, along with an increased amount of phosphorus. Common signs and symptoms associated with hypoparathyroidism include decreased blood calcium levels, tingling or burning sensations in your fingertips, toes and lips, muscle aches and cramps, fatigue, weakness, painful menstruation, hair loss, dry skin, brittle nails, anxiety, nervousness, headaches, depression and memory problems. The Mayo Clinic states that stunted growth and slow mental development in children are possible hypoparathyroidism-related complications.
Hungry Bone Syndrome
Hungry bone syndrome is a health condition that can cause difficulty maintaining your blood calcium levels. The Cleveland Clinic -- one of the top four hospitals in the United States -- states that hungry bone syndrome is hypocalcemia, or low blood calcium levels, that occurs after surgery for severe, prolonged hyperparathyroidism. Hyperparathyroidism is a disease in which one or more of your parathyroid glands -- oval, rice-shaped glands located in your neck -- secrete too much parathyroid hormone into your bloodstream. In some cases, after hyperparathyroidism surgery, serum calcium is quickly deposited into your bones; a condition known as hungry bone syndrome. According to the Cleveland Clinic, hungry bone syndrome is rarely seen following the correction of chronic, or longstanding, metabolic acidosis or after thyroidectomy -- removal of all, or part, of the thyroid gland -- for hyperthyroidism.
Hypochlorhydria
Hypochlorhydria is a health condition that may cause difficulty maintaining your blood calcium levels. According to Dr. Dicken Weatherby, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Blood Chemistry and CBC Analysis," a decreased serum calcium is often associated with a decreased production of hydrochloric acid in your stomach, or hypochlorhydria. Numerous factors may cause insufficient production of stomach acid, including poor diet, excess carbohydrate consumption, chronic stress, zinc and thiamine deficiencies, antacid use, alcohol abuse and NSAID use. Common signs and symptoms associated with hypochlorhydria include decreased blood calcium levels, gas and bloating shortly after meals, the sensation of fullness after consuming only a small amount of food, nausea after consuming certain supplements, brittle nails and dilated capillaries -- tiny, superficial blood vessels -- in your cheeks and nose.
