The most abundant nutrient in the body is calcium, which composes the majority of bone tissue. The body also requires calcium to release hormones, maintain proper neurological and nervous function and contract muscles. High levels of calcium in the blood, called hypercalcemia, can interfere with the bodily processes that require calcium. Hypercalcemia usually indicates overactive parathyroid glands, which moderate calcium levels, according to the Mayo Clinic. Many cases of hypercalcemia exhibit no symptoms.
Gastrointestinal Effects
Some of the most acute symptoms of hypercalcemia appear in the abdominal region. Usually accompanying more severe cases of hypercalcemia, these symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, decreased or absent appetite and constipation. These symptoms are associated with many conditions, however, so they do not by themselves conclusively indicate hypercalcemia. If you have these symptoms, you should see your doctor for a definitive diagnosis.
Renal Effects
Kidney failure is one of the primary causes of hypercalcemia, according to Medline Plus. If you have hypercalcemia while your kidneys are functional, symptoms may include excessive thirst, frequent urination and lower back pain. These symptoms occur because your body is working to dilute calcium in your blood and quickly expel it.
Musculoskeletal Effects
Because calcium is a primary component in skeletal formation and composition, skeletal effects accompany hypercalcemia. Specifically, hypercalcemia can cause bone pain, shrinkage, serial fractures, a curved spine and bowed shoulders. Given that calcium an essential nutrient for muscle contraction, hypercalcemia can affect muscles as well, causing twitches, weakness and pain. Joints may exhibit pain as well if you have this condition.
Behavioral Effects
As calcium helps regulate proper neurological and nerve function, an overabundance of calcium can have psychological effects. Among these effects are confusion, apathy, depression, dementia, lethargy, irritability, fatigue and memory loss. Like many other symptoms of hypercalcemia, these symtoms can indicate other serious conditions. See your doctor if you experience these symptoms.
Signs
A laboratory test can determine the amount of calcium present in your blood. If the results indicate that your serum calcium levels exceed 10 mg/dL, you are positively hypercalcemic. Urine tests can help determine hypercalcemia as well. Obtaining the urine sample takes two days. On day one, you must urinate in the morning, then collect all fluid from subsequent urination throughout the day. On the second day, you collect urine from your first urination and submit the samples to your doctor. A hypercalcemia diagnosis results from a urine calcium content exceeding 300 mg. A third test for hypercalcemia is a PTH, or parathyroid hormone, test, which measures your serum parathyroid hormone content. If this measurement deviates from the range 10 to 55 pictograms per milliliter, you may have hypercalcemia.
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