Calcium Deposits

Calcium deposition occurs when calcium gets deposited on the surface of a gland or organ, or even intracellularly. These kinds of deposits can occur in various parts of the body. They normally end up being hard deposits that can often be either obstructive in nature, or they can even become a source of infection if left untreated for long. Sometimes, if the size gets very big, then it may even cause severe pain, in which case the person may even require surgical intervention to deal with the condition.

Causes of Calcium Deposition

The exact cause, as to what triggers calcium deposition in the body is not known. However, there can be many factors that can contribute to this condition. One such factor is changes in the calcium absorption and uptake triggered by hormonal imbalance and alterations in the levels of vitamin D. This often is caused due to malfunctioning of the thyroid and parathyroid gland. It leads to excessive calcium in the blood, known as hypercalcemia. Thus, due to this, then the excess calcium gets deposited in different organs, causing pain and discomfort and thus, triggering off calcium deposits in the body.

Areas of Calcium Deposition

Kidney
One of the most common areas for deposition of calcium is the kidneys. Kidneys are very susceptible to developing calcium depositions due to the fact that while the blood gets filtered in the kidney, there is a higher chance that there are certain calcium depositions left behind. This leads to the condition known as kidney stones. Sometimes, these stones can be very small though if left untreated, can end up becoming larger over time, after which symptoms like pain and difficulty in urination start showing up. These calcium deposits can also pass from the kidney into the ureters or urethra.

Bones
Sometimes, there may be excessive deposition of calcium on the bones, especially the long bones. This causes pain and due to the extra calcium, the tensile strength of the bones decrease, due to which they become brittle in nature and thus, have higher chances of suffering from bone fractures. These can also lead to bone spur symptoms.

Under Skin
Calcifications under the skin can occur in conditions like scleroderma. These deposits of calcium occur in the form of small lumps, that may even break through the skin, in which case they appear as grains or as a white mass. These deposits may even cause pain, redness, swelling and can also be a nidus for infection. This can eventually lead to inflammation of the muscle, as is seen in dermatomyositis.

Breasts
Normally, calcium deposition in the breasts can occur in cases of microcalcification. In this condition, there are small deposits of calcium spread throughout the mammary gland. These are mostly seen in mammograms, and often, they do not require active medical or surgical treatment.

Other Sites
Calcium deposits on face is also commonly seen in some cases, like in calcinosis. This leads to tissue damage as is seen in autoimmune disorders like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Deposits of calcium on the tonsils leads to a condition known as tonsil stones.

Treatment for Calcium Deposits

The treatment will depend on the severity and location of the calcium deposition. In cases of kidney and tonsil stones, if the stone is small, then with the help of certain medications, one can remove calcium deposits. However, if the stone is large, as is seen in certain cases of kidney stones, then there is often need for surgical intervention. For deposits of calcium in soft tissues, like in muscles or on face, the treatment will mostly involve the use of drugs that will immediately bring down the levels of calcium deposition in the tissues.

Thus, calcium deposits in the body aren't really a major health concern and can rarely be fatal. However, if the stone becomes very large in size, then it can lead to pain and severe discomfort. Hence, before the need for surgical intervention arises, it is best to treat the calcium deposits with the help of medication, and certain healthy changes in diet and lifestyle.