Approximately 99 percent of the calcium in your body is in your bones, while the remaining 1 percent is in your blood and cells. Calcium helps build strong bones and teeth and ensures that nerves and muscles function correctly. When too much calcium accumulates in the bloodstream, a condition called hypercalcemia, it can be damaging to your health.
Physiology
Two hormones in the body, parathyroid hormone and calcitonin, regulate calcium levels in the blood. When calcium levels get too low, the body produces parathyroid hormone, which triggers the release of calcium from your bones. Once calcium levels return to normal, the production of parathyroid hormone stops. When calcium levels get too high, the thyroid gland produces calcitonin, which slows the release of calcium from the bones. When this process is disrupted, you can develop hypercalcemia.
Causes
Excess intake of dietary calcium does not usually lead to hypercalcemia, but rather excess calcium supplementation. If you consume too much calcium in the form of supplements, the calcium levels in your blood can rise quickly. Other possible causes of hypercalcemia include overactivity of the parathyroid glands, cancer, inflammatory lung diseases, certain medications and dehydration, according to MayoClinic.com.
Symptoms
Mild forms of hypercalcemia do not usually cause any symptoms. As calcium accumulates to high levels in the bloodstream, it can cause nausea, vomiting, increased thirst, loss of appetite, frequent urination, constipation, abdominal pain, muscle weakness, muscle aches, joint pain, confusion and fatigue.
Treatment
Initial treatment for hypercalcemia focuses on correcting calcium levels. Intravenous fluids will be given to hydrate you while diuretics are administered to help your body remove excess calcium through your urine. Those with kidney abnormalities may need dialysis to help their body remove calcium from the body. Synthetic calcitonin may also be given to slow the release of calcium from the bone and help preserve bone mass.
Once calcium levels are restored, further treatment focuses on correcting the underlying cause of hypercalcemia. If hypercalcemia is caused by excess supplementation, you should discontinue taking supplements immediately. Other causes usually require medical intervention.
Complications
Severe hypercalcemia can lead to the development of osteoporosis. If the bones continuously release calcium, it can cause them to become weak and brittle and more prone to breakage. Left untreated, hypercalcemia can also lead to the development of kidney stones or kidney failure. High calcium levels also affect your nervous system and heart, occasionally causing an irregular heart beat called an arrhythmia.
Member Comments