Excess calcium is a condition when calcium levels in the body are too high to exceed the normal range. This condition sometimes has no symptoms, but can be detected through health examinations, such as blood and urine tests. If left untreated, excess calcium can cause health problems, such as kidney stones.
Excess Calcium, Recognize the Symptoms and How to Overcome It |
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body. Most of these minerals are stored in bones and teeth. This is the reason why calcium can strengthen bones and teeth.
Apart from being important for healthy bones and teeth, calcium also plays an important role in ensuring that the nerves, muscles and heart can function properly. Even though it is important, excessive levels of calcium in the blood can be dangerous to health. This condition of excess calcium or hypercalcemia can weaken bones, form kidney stones, and disrupt heart and brain function.
Excess Calcium and Its Symptoms
Generally, excess calcium can be caused by several things, ranging from excess intake of calcium or vitamin D, either from food or supplements, excess parathyroid hormone (hyperparathyroidism), kidney disease, to dehydration.
Calcium levels in an adult's blood normally range from 8.5–10 milligrams per deciliter. This can be known through blood tests. A person can be said to have excess calcium if the calcium level in their blood exceeds this amount.
If it is still mild, excess calcium usually does not cause symptoms. However, if left untreated, over time this condition can cause the following symptoms:
1. Pee more often
Excessive calcium will be filtered by the kidneys and excreted through urine when urinating. So, if there is too much calcium in the blood, the kidneys will have to work harder to filter it. As a result, people with excess calcium often urinate.
Apart from that, this complaint could also occur due to kidney stones. These stones can form when excessive calcium minerals accumulate in the kidneys. The size of the stones can vary, some are small and some are large. When there are kidney stones, this organ will work extra hard to remove them from the body through the urination process.
2. Often thirsty
When the body urinates frequently to get rid of toxins, excess fluids, and calcium that accumulates in the blood, this can make the body thirsty more often.
The thing is, peeing excessively will make the body lack fluids. When the body begins to lack fluids, thirst will appear as a response to meet the body's fluid needs and replace lost body fluids.
3. Bone and muscle pain
Even though it is needed for healthy bones and muscles, excess calcium can actually cause bone and muscle pain. The reason is that excess calcium in the blood will then reduce the amount of calcium that should be stored in the bones, so that the bones will become brittle and break easily.
Apart from that, excessive calcium levels can also have an impact on the functioning of the nervous system, making bones and muscles painful and weak.
4. Nausea and vomiting
One of the symptoms of excess calcium is digestive disorders that make the stomach feel uncomfortable, bloated, or gassy. This can make sufferers feel nauseous. If it is unbearable, vomiting can occur.
5. Reduced appetite
Nausea and vomiting, which are caused by excess calcium, can also result in reduced appetite. If left unchecked, this can lead to weight loss and malnutrition.
6. Constipation
Not only does it make the stomach feel uncomfortable, excess calcium can also cause constipation. This is because excess calcium can disrupt the function of the digestive muscles, which can lead to constipation.
7. Headache
Another possible symptom of excess calcium is headaches. Research shows that excess calcium is linked to headache conditions, especially migraines.
8. Easy to forget
Calcium is an important mineral to support nerve function in the brain. However, excess calcium can actually weaken the nerves in the brain and cause forgetfulness or dementia. Apart from that, this condition can also cause easy confusion, lethargy, fatigue.
Please remember, excess calcium can sometimes cause no symptoms. However, this condition can lead to dangerous diseases, such as kidney failure and heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmia), if not treated immediately. That is the importance of having regular health checks and blood tests (medical check-ups), especially if you experience the symptoms above.
How to Overcome Excess Calcium
Excess calcium can be prevented and managed at home by adjusting your diet and lifestyle. However, this only applies to mild calcium excess conditions, yes. To prevent and overcome this condition, try several ways to deal with excess calcium below:
- Drink at least 2 liters of water per day.
- Do light exercise regularly at home.
- Limit foods high in calcium, such as anchovies, milk, cheese and yoghurt.
- Limit consumption of supplements containing calcium and vitamin D.
- Do regular health checks with a doctor.
Now, you know more about excess calcium, its symptoms and how to treat it. To avoid experiencing this, especially if it gets serious, you should do routine blood tests which include calcium checks.
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