You need calcium in your diet to support several key body functions, including formation of your bones, contraction of your muscles and normal activity in your brain and nerves. However, if you have too much calcium in your body, you can develop a disorder called hypercalcemia. Treatment for this condition depends on the underlying cause of your calcium excess.
Basics
The vast majority of your body's calcium supply is located in your teeth and bones. However, hypercalcemia stems from excess calcium in your bloodstream, not in these main storage areas. The most common underlying cause of excess blood calcium is a disorder in your parathyroid glands called primary hyperparathyroidism, according to PubMed Health. Other potential causes include excessive calcium intake, excessive vitamin D intake, kidney or adrenal gland failure, prolonged periods of immobility, thyroid gland overactivity, use of medications such as thiazide diuretics and lithium, and the presence of cancer in your lungs or breast.
Varying Severity and Effects
The effects of hypercalcemia can vary widely. People with mild versions of the disorder may have few or no symptoms, while people with more severe versions can have symptoms that include constipation, abnormal thirst, appetite loss, confusion, joint and muscle aches, muscle weakness, fatigue, lethargy, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and unusually frequent urination. However, the severity of symptoms isn't always directly related to the amount of calcium in your bloodstream, and older people in particular can develop significant symptoms such as muscle weakness or pain even with relatively modest calcium elevations.
Determining Treatment Needs
Treatment options for hypercalcemia vary with both your symptoms and your blood calcium levels. If you don't have any symptoms and your blood calcium levels fall below 12 mg/dL, you likely don't need any treatment at all. If your calcium levels range between 12 and 14 mg/dL and you have no symptoms, you may only need to increase your fluid intake. However, if you have symptoms with this degree of calcium elevation, your doctor will need to promptly treat your condition. Prompt treatment is also required for blood calcium levels above 14 mg/dL whether or not you have hypercalcemia symptoms.
Treatment Options
People with severe hypercalcemia may need hospitalization to safeguard their health. Treatments used in a hospital setting include intravenous, or IV, fluids; IV doses of medications called bisphosphonates; dialysis; loop diuretics; steroid medications called glucocorticoids; and a thyroid gland hormone called calcitonin. Once any severe problems are resolved, your doctor can pursue a treatment course aimed at the underlying causes of excess calcium production. For instance, if you have primary hyperthyroidism, your doctor may need to surgically remove your malfunctioning parathyroid glands or treat you with parathyroid medications. Consult your doctor for more information about potential causes and effective treatments for hypercalcemia.
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