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Hypercalcemia is too much calcium in the body. Calcium plays a key role in many of the human body’s processes. In addition to being a building block of bones, it influences, among others, on the nervous, vascular and muscular systems. What happens if the body develops an excess of it? What are the causes, symptoms, and how is hypercalcaemia treated?
Hypercalcemia – characteristics
Hypercalcaemia is a condition where the amount of calcium in the blood is too high. The condition is uncommon but can be a sign of concern. It testifies to serious diseases. Calcium is one of the most important elements in the human body, supplied through the alimentary tract. It is a building block of bones and regulates blood coagulation. It affects the work of: the heart, muscles and nervous system.
Most of it is in the bones (as much as 99 percent), the remaining 1 percent. it is found in blood and extracellular fluids. The normal level of calcium in the blood is between 2,25 and 2,6 mmol / l. If the calcium level exceeds 2,6 mmol / l, it is called hypercalcemia. Standards may vary slightly in diagnostic laboratories, so always consult your doctor about the results.
Hypercalcemia – symptoms
The symptoms of hypercalcemia depend on the organ and system that is affected by the disease, so we can divide them into symptoms that occur in a given system:
- digestive system: nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, constipation, abdominal pain, increased thirst
- urinary system: polyuria, pollakiuria, nephrolithiasis
- nervous system: weakness, drowsiness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, headache, and depression at high levels of calcium
- cardiovascular system: arterial hypertension, tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmia. Hypercalcemia can be detected by ECG (prolongs the PQ interval and shortens the QT interval)
- muscular system: muscle weakness and dehydration
In many cases, hypercalcaemia is mild and asymptomatic. In extreme cases, it leads to a sudden coma. Blood calcium level above 3,75 mmol / L is called a hypercalcemic crisis that is life-threatening.
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Hypercalcemia – causes
The two main causes are hyperparathyroidism and cancer. They constitute as much as 90 percent. cases of hypercalcaemia. The remaining 10 percent. are other diseases.
Causes of hypercalcemia:
- hyperparathyroidism – if the hormones responsible for regulating calcium in the body do not function properly (usually due to a cancer of the parathyroid glands), they start to produce too much PTH (parathyroid hormones) – calcium is no longer excreted in the urine and therefore its concentration in the blood rises
- cancer – cancer cells produce a protein that, like PTH, makes it difficult for calcium to be excreted in the urine. Hypercalcemia in the course of neoplastic disease – indicates bone metastases. The occurrence of neoplastic hypercalcemia is caused by: solid metastatic tumors, hemato-oncological tumors (multiple myeloma, lymphoma, leukemia) and solid hormonal tumors (lung cancer, kidney cancer);
- overactive thyroid gland
- excess vitamin D.
- injuries requiring long-term immobility (prolonged bed immobility releases calcium from the bones into the blood)
- other chronic diseases
Hypercalcemia – diagnosis
The diagnosis of hypercalcemia is based on tests that determine the level of calcium in the blood. In addition, auxiliary tests are performed to check the concentration of: creatinine, chloride, phosphate, magnesium, potassium, and PTH. The doctor also orders a blood gas test (a test for gas levels in the blood).
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Hypercalcemia – treatment
In order to properly treat hypercalcemia, its cause must be established. If we are dealing with hypercalcemia caused by cancer, parathyroid adenoma, or hyperthyroidism – treatment focuses on eliminating these changes.
If the cause of hypercalcemia is an excessive supply of vitamin D and, as a result, vitamin D poisoning, the patient immediately discontinues supplementation and is treated with glucocorticosteroids. In kidney patients, dialysis is performed to help cleanse the body of calcium.
Treatment of hypercalcemia is based on the administration of drugs:
- lowering calcium levels;
- diuretics to help excrete calcium in the urine;
- inhibiting the absorption of calcium from the gastrointestinal tract;
- reducing the release of calcium from bones.
Hypercalcemia – diet
The key to treating hypercalcemia is an elimination diet. It consists in avoiding calcium-rich foods: white cheese, cheese, white beans and sesame. It is also important to limit your drinking of mineral water (it also contains calcium). You should eat food that is a rich source of phosphorus: milk, rennet cheese, eggs, turkey and chicken meat, sardines, herring in oil, grains, buckwheat, nuts. Phosphorus helps remove calcium from the body.
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