Calcium is a mineral that is important for the strength of your bones and teeth, but it also plays a role in many of the tissues in your body. Too much calcium in your blood can affect the function of your heart, leading to an irregular heartbeat.
Calcium as Electrolyte
Calcium is an important mineral for the heart because it is an electrolyte. Electrolytes are substances that have an electrical charge when they are dissolved in water-based liquids, such as blood and the fluid inside cells. Cells can manipulate the amount of calcium inside and outside of the cell to alter their electrical charge. Calcium in cells is also critical for the contraction of muscle cells.
Hypercalcemia and the Heart
Your heart has multiple chambers and the contraction of your heart muscles is carefully timed so that the blood flows properly from one chamber to the next. Your heart is able to control muscle contractions using electrical currents which modulate the rhythm of the heart. Part of this electrical activity is controlled by calcium levels. If you develop too much calcium in your blood, an abnormal heart rhythm may develop, MayoClinic.com explains, also known as an arrhythmia.
Causes
Hypercalcemia can be caused by consuming too much calcium or vitamin D in your diet, as vitamin D causes your digestive tract to absorb more calcium, PubMed Health reports. Your calcium levels can also get too high if you have an overactive parathyroid gland, which is responsible for controlling calcium levels. Problems with your thyroid gland and adrenal glands will also cause your body to hold onto too much calcium. Because excess calcium is secreted by the kidneys, kidney failure can also cause your calcium levels to rise.
Treatment
Treatment for hypercalcemia focuses on removing the excess calcium from the body. Intravenous fluids will dilute the calcium in your blood and medications known as loop diuretics will help your kidneys excrete some of the extra calcium. A class of medications known as bisphosphonates keep your bones from becoming damaged and also lower serum calcium levels, the Cleveland Clinic states. Calcium can also be removed via dialysis, particularly if you are having kidney problems.
