Calcium is a mineral, essential to maintain your teeth and bones strong. It also plays
an important role in muscle contraction, hormone production and
maintaining proper brain and nerve functioning. But high calcium level can interfere with
all these processes by disrupting the normal body balance. Hypercalcemia
is a condition in which the calcium level in your blood is above normal.
The normal range of calcium in your body is 9 – 11 mg/dl.
Signs and symptoms of hypercalcemia may range from mild to severe. Mild hypercalcemia will not present any signs or symptoms in most cases. Signs of moderate to severe increase in calcium is presented in the following ways depending on the organ which is affected.
Signs and symptoms of hypercalcemia may range from mild to severe. Mild hypercalcemia will not present any signs or symptoms in most cases. Signs of moderate to severe increase in calcium is presented in the following ways depending on the organ which is affected.
1.
Vomiting: Gastrointestinal
symptoms including nausea and vomiting are considered the result of depressive action of hypercalcemia on the autonomic nervous
system.
2.
Abnormal heart rhythms: This occurs with
acute increase in calcium levels. Elevated calcium cause abnormal
electrical impulses in the heart and cause arrhythmias (abnormal heart
rhythms). Significant hypercalcemia can cause ECG changes mimicking an acute myocardial infarction.
3.
Polyuria: The term polyuria refers to
increased amount of urine formation.
Hypercalcemia causes tubular defect in the kidney, resulting in polyuria.
4.
Constipation: Since
increased calcium promotes excess production of urine, the dehydration due
to polyuria will result in constipation. Decreased fluid intake will make the
condition worse.
5.
Kidney stones: As a
consequence of long-term hypercalcemia,
calcium phosphate crystals will precipitate to form renal calculi, which
is commonly referred as
kidney stones. Blockage caused by stone can lead to kidney damage, and passing
a stone can be extremely painful.
6.
Excessive thirst:
This is associated with excessive fluid loss due to increased urine formation. Other signs like dry
skin and cracked lips are also seen due to improper
balance between water intake and output.
7.
Peptic ulcer:
Hypercalcemia can increase gastrin production.
This will cause increased acidity resulting in peptic ulcers.
8.
Psychotic symptoms:
Calcium ions have a major role in neurotransmission. Hypercalcemia causes
personality changes and other psychotic symptoms like confusion, hallucination,
loss of memory or depression.
9.
Fatigue and muscle
weakness: Fatigue, muscle weakness and sluggish reflexes in muscle groups are
common in patients with hypercalcemia.
This occurs due to decrease in neuronal excitability with increased calcium
ions, which leads to hypotonicity of smooth and striated muscle.
10. Bone related symptoms: Since calcium is a closely associated mineral with bones, its
increase will affect bone severely. Fractures, skeletal deformities, curving of
spine and pain are the most common among them.
11.
Coma: Severe hypercalcemia above 15–16 mg/dl is considered a medical emergency which will result in a coma.
Even though hypercalcemia associated with conditions like
cancer cannot be cured, the prognosis is excellent for most other causes, if
the underlying cause is diagnosed and treated properly.
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