Hypercalcemia Symptoms

Calcium plays a very important role in various bodily functions like muscle contraction, hormone release and bone formation. This mineral ensures the proper functioning of the brain and the nerves. The levels of calcium in the blood is regulated by calcitonin (produced by thyroid gland), and parathyroid hormone (produced by parathyroid glands). However, in some people, the blood calcium levels rise above normal due to various reasons. Such a condition is termed as hypercalcemia, which can affect most of the functions mentioned above.

What Causes Hypercalcemia

In order to understand the causes of hypercalcemia, a basic idea about the absorption, regulation and excretion of calcium is necessary. Calcium is supplied to the body through foods like milk and dairy products and green leafy vegetables. Calcium absorbed from the food and is stored in the bones. In case of excess calcium, it is excreted through the urine. All these are processes that are regulated by various mechanisms like parathyroid hormone and calcitonin. In normal cases, a dip in blood calcium level is countered by excess production of parathyroid hormone, which in turn stimulates release of calcium from bones, absorption of calcium from the digestive system and reduces the excretion of calcium by the kidneys. It also activates vitamin D, which aids the absorption of calcium in the body. In case of rise in blood calcium level, the body produces less parathyroid hormones, which curtails calcium absorption from the digestive tract and release from the bones, thereby reducing calcium levels.

In case of high levels of blood calcium, thyroid gland also produces calcitonin, which inhibits the release of calcium from the bones. In some cases, the natural checks and balances (regarding calcium regulation) in the body do not work properly. One of the prominent causes for hypercalcemia is hyperactive parathyroid glands, which produces parathyroid hormone in excess. This condition is called hyperparathyroidism, which may affect any one or all four of the parathyroid glands. Certain cancers like lung cancer, breast cancer and blood cancer, can cause hypercalcemia. Tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, infectious lung diseases, familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (genetic disorder), kidney failure, hyperthyroidism, excess intake of foods rich in calcium or calcium supplements may also lead to hypercalcemia. In some cases, medication like thiazide diuretics are found to cause this condition. Dehydration and immobilization for very long periods may also cause a rise in blood calcium levels.

Symptoms of Hypercalcemia

The symptoms may vary from one patient to another. While some of them do not experience any symptoms, others may experience a few symptoms. In case of mild hypercalcemia, the person may not have any symptoms. However, severe cases may exhibit some of the following hypercalcemia symptoms.

• The most common symptoms include, tiredness, nausea and vomiting, constipation, pain in the abdomen, muscle and joint pain, loss of appetite, excess thirst and frequent urination.
• Hypercalcemia affects other systems and organs, like the nervous system, cardiovascular system, bones, kidneys and the digestive system. If a particular system or organ is affected badly, the symptoms will be mostly related to that part.
• In case of a nervous system, the patient may experience headaches, difficulty in thinking and concentrating and difficulty in speaking clearly.
• This condition can affect the normal functioning of the heart and may cause irregular heart beats (arrhythmia) and even a heart attack.
• In case of kidneys, hypercalcemia symptoms include production of large volumes of urine and frequent urination. If the person consumes less amount of water, dehydration may also result. Other symptoms include dry mouth, absence of sweating and concentrated urine.

Hypercalcemia can affect the bones, and cause bone loss. So, if left untreated , it can cause osteoporosis, kidney stones, abnormal heart beats and coma. If you notice such symptoms, it is better to consult a doctor and rule out the possibility of high blood calcium levels. Hypercalcemia treatment is based on the underlying cause. Otherwise, it includes medication and hemodialysis, to bring down the calcium level. Severe cases may require hospitalization too. You can prevent the condition to some extent by drinking lots of water, regular exercise and by quitting smoking.