Basic Overview of Hypercalcemia

What is hypercalcemia?
Calcium is an important mineral in our body and helps in the regulation and processing of many body functions like bone formation, hormone release, muscle contraction, nerve and brain function. The calcium levels in our body should be balanced as an increase or decrease of calcium level may cause various problems.

Hypercalcemia refers to an increase in the levels of calcium in the blood. It is a condition in which the calcium level in the blood rises above the normal. Elevated calcium levels in the blood can weaken the bones and also interfere with the working of heart and brain.

Read Also: Kidney Function Tests

Calcium levels in the body should be tightly regulated. Calcium regulation is mainly controlled by three hormones- parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D, and calcitonin. Parathyroid hormone is produced by the parathyroid glands which surround the thyroid gland. Vitamin D is obtained through various foods and also via a process that begins with sun exposure and continues in the liver and kidneys. Vitamin D can also be obtained from foods such as eggs and dairy products. Calcitonin is produced in specialized cells of the thyroid gland. All these three hormones act on the bones, the kidneys, and the GI tract and therefore regulate the calcium levels in the blood.

Complications associated with hypercalcemia?
There are many complications associated with hypercalcemia like kidney problems, irregular heartbeats, osteoporosis, and confusion or dementia etc. Since calcium helps in the proper functioning of the nervous system so serious cases of hypercalcemia can lead to life-threatening coma.

Symptoms of hypercalcemia
Mild hypercalcemia do not produce any noticeable symptoms but in serious cases, there are many signs and symptoms that affect various parts of the body. Some main symptoms found in severe hypercalcemia are headaches, fatigue, kidney problems such as different kidney stone types  are formed in the kidneys, extreme thirst, frequent urination, pain in the back and upper abdomen due to kidney stones, nausea, abdominal pain, decreased appetite, vomiting, abnormal heart rhythms, muscle cramps, bone pain, depression, memory loss, and irritability.

What causes hypercalcemia?
Excessive levels of calcium in the body called as hypercalcemia may be caused by various factors and some of the several possible causes of this condition are:

Hyperparathyroidism
Excess PTH released by overactive parathyroid glands creates a calcium imbalance in the body which cannot be corrected on its own. This is basic cause of hypercalcemia, especially in women over the age of 50 years.

Lung diseases and cancers
Granulomatous lung diseases such as tuberculosis and sarcoidosis result in excess calcium absorption in the body and therefore cause hypercalcemia.

Cancers
Different types of cancers especially lung cancer, breast cancer, and blood cancers have been found to increase the calcium levels in the blood.

Read Also: Risk Factors for Chronic Kidney Disease

Medication side effects
Some medications especially diuretics can produce hypercalcemia by causing severe fluid dieresis in which there is excess loss of water from the body and an under excretion of calcium which ultimately leads to an excess concentration of calcium in the blood. Some other drugs, such as lithium, increase the amount of PTH in the blood.

Dietary supplements and over-the-counter medications
Taking excessive supplements of vitamin D or calcium can raise body’s calcium levels. Excessive use of calcium carbonate, found in common antacids like Tums and Rolaids, can also lead to hypercalcemia.

Preventing hypercalcemia
Following tips may somehow help in preventing hypercalcemia from getting worse:

• Drinking  plenty of fluids
• Control nausea and vomiting
• Being active and walking which prevents breaking of bones
• Avoiding excessive use of calcium supplements