What is Hypercalcemia? Hypercalcemia Symptoms and Treatment

What is hypercalcemia? Hypercalcemia means high calcium. It means having a very high level of calcium in the blood.

Calcium is essential for the normal function of organs, cells, muscles, and nerves. Also blood clotting and bone health also important for However, too much calcium causes problems. Hypercalcemia makes it difficult for the body to carry out its normal functions. Extremely high calcium levels can be life threatening.

What is Hypercalcemia?

The body uses the interaction between calcium, vitamin D, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) to regulate calcium levels. PTH controls how much calcium passes into the blood stream from the body's intestines, kidneys, and bones.

Normally, PTH increases when the calcium level rises, and when the calcium level in the blood falls and decreases. When the calcium level is too high, the body can make calcitonin from the thyroid gland. When there is hypercalcemia, there is excess calcium in the blood stream and the body cannot regulate its normal calcium level. 

Causes of Hypercalcemia

Hypercalcemia can have a variety of causes:

• Hyperparathyroidism creates a calcium imbalance that the body cannot regulate on its own. This is the leading cause of hypercalcemia, especially in women over 50.
• Tuberculosis ve sarcoidosis Granulomatous diseases such as granulomatous diseases cause elevated levels of vitamin D. This causes more calcium absorption, which increases calcium levels, and increases the risk of hypercalcemia.
• Some drugs, especially diuretics, can produce hypercalcemia. Drugs such as lithium cause more PTH to be released.
• Taking too many vitamin D or calcium supplements can increase calcium levels.
• DehydrationIt causes the calcium level to rise due to the low amount of fluid in the blood.

Hypercalcemia Symptoms

Mild signs of hypercalcemia are not evident. More severe calcium elevations usually have symptoms affecting various parts of the body.

• Headache
• Fatigue 
• Extreme thirst
• excessive urination
• Pain between back and upper abdomen due to kidney stone
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• decreased appetite
• Constipation
• Mumps
• arrhythmia
• Muscle cramps and twitching
• Bone pain
• Osteoporosis

Neurological symptoms such as depression, memory loss, and irritability may occur in hypercalcemia. Severe cases can cause mental confusion and coma.

Hypercalcemia Treatment

In mild cases;

• In case of a mild case of hypercalcemia depending on the cause, it is necessary to monitor its progress. It is important to find the underlying cause.
• It is necessary to follow the doctor's follow-up recommendations. Even mild calcium elevations can lead to kidney stones and kidney damage over time.

moderate and severe cases;

• Moderate to severe hypercalcemia will need hospital treatment. 
• The goal of treatment is to normalize the calcium level. Treatment also aims to prevent damage to the bones and kidneys.

What Diseases Cause Hypercalcemia?

• It can cause kidney problems such as hypercalcemia, kidney stones and kidney failure. 
• Other complications include irregular heartbeat and osteoporosis.
• Because calcium helps the nervous system function properly, hypercalcemia can cause mental confusion or dementia. 
• Serious cases can lead to potentially life-threatening coma.

What to do in case of hypercalcemia?

In case of hypercalcemia, the doctor may recommend avoiding calcium-rich foods. In this case, you should consume less of the following foods.

• Dairy products: Milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt, etc.
• Calcium-fortified products: Some cereals, orange juices, etc.
• Sea products: Salmon, sardines, shrimp, crab etc.
• Some vegetables: Spinach, kale, broccoli etc.

Although it is not always possible to prevent hypercalcemia, it is necessary to take calcium supplements carefully to reduce the risk. It should not be used without doctor's advice. Since dehydration can also cause hypercalcemia, it is necessary to drink enough water throughout the day.

References: 1