When you get a blood test , does the doctor tell you that "your blood calcium level is a little high"? It 's normal to feel a little scared when you hear that. But don't worry. This condition is what we medically call hypercalcemia . Simply put, it means that you have more calcium in your blood than it should be. Let's talk about this very simply and in a friendly way today.
What exactly is hypercalcemia?
Calcium is essential for our bodies, especially for the strength of our bones and teeth. It is also needed for our nervous system and muscles to function properly. However, like anything else, too much calcium in the body is not good.
If your blood calcium level is just a little high, you may not notice any symptoms. But as the level increases, our body tries to get rid of this extra calcium in the urine. So you may experience things like:
- The need to urinate frequently.
- Feeling more thirsty than usual.
If calcium levels become too high, it can affect our nervous system, causing confusion, memory loss, and sometimes even passing out .
The most important thing is that if this condition is left untreated, it can eventually lead to serious conditions like bone loss, kidney stones, kidney failure, and heart disease . Therefore, it is very important to be aware of this, talk to your doctor, and take the necessary steps.
What are the main reasons for this?
Although there are more than 25 causes of high blood calcium, 90% of them occur due to two main reasons.
1. Overactive Parathyroid Glands
This is the most common cause of hypercalcemia. The parathyroid glands are four small glands located in our neck, behind the thyroid gland . They act like a thermostat that controls calcium.
When blood calcium levels drop, these glands produce a hormone called parathyroid hormone ( PTH ). This hormone signals our bones to "release more calcium into the blood," our kidneys to "reduce the amount of calcium we excrete in our urine," and our intestines to "absorb more calcium from our food."
However, if one or more of these glands become overactive, they produce more PTH than necessary. This can cause the calcium level in the blood to rise unnecessarily. This can be due to enlargement of the glands or the formation of a noncancerous tumor.
If you have Hypercalcemia for this reason, you may also experience symptoms such as:
- Depression
- Memory loss
- Heartburn
- Sleep problems
- Pain in bones and muscles
- Constant fatigue
As a treatment, your doctor will often recommend surgical removal of the affected gland or glands. If the condition is not too serious, you can monitor your condition by regularly checking your calcium levels, blood pressure, and kidney health.
2. Cancer
Hypercalcemia can occur in 10%-30% of cancer patients. This is because some cancers:
- Bones can be broken down, releasing calcium into the blood.
- It can produce a substance that acts like the PTH hormone and signal the release of calcium from the bones.
- It can affect kidney function and reduce the amount of calcium excreted in the urine.
The types of cancer most commonly associated with hypercalcemia are:
- Lung cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Breast cancer
- Multiple myeloma - A type of blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow.
Hypercalcemia caused by cancer can be difficult to manage. The main thing is to treat the cancer. However, your doctor may give you medications such as ``Bisphosphonates'' or ``Denosumab'' as an intravenous (IV) or injection to control the release of calcium from the bones.
How vitamins and supplements affect
Sometimes the vitamins and supplements we use can also be a cause of this.
| Supplement / Vitamin | How it affects |
|---|---|
| Calcium Supplements and Antacids | Excessive and prolonged use of some antacids and calcium tablets used for gastritis can cause an increase in calcium in the blood. This condition is called (Milk-alkali syndrome) . This can also damage the kidneys. |
| Vitamin D | Vitamin D helps our bodies absorb calcium. However, if you take very high doses of vitamin D for several months (for example, 60,000 IU per day), your calcium levels can become dangerously high. You don't get this much vitamin D from regular food or sunlight. |
| Vitamin A | Taking too much vitamin A can cause excess calcium to be released from the bones and accumulate in the blood. |
Remember, if you are taking any vitamins or supplements, be sure to tell your doctor about them. Don't start or stop anything without talking to them first.
Other reasons and emergencies
Other things that can affect
- Other medications: Some medications for high blood pressure (e.g., thiazide diuretics) and medications for mental illness, such as lithium, can also increase calcium levels.
- Genetics: Very rarely, this can also be caused by a genetic condition called Familial Hypocalciuric Hypercalcemia (FHH).
- Health conditions: Lung diseases like tuberculosis, conditions like overactive thyroid.
- Physical inactivity: This condition can also occur in people who are confined to bed for a long time due to a condition such as paralysis or another illness. The reason for this is that when the bones do not feel the weight of the body, calcium is released from the bones.
- Severe Dehydration: When there is not enough water in the body, the kidneys are unable to excrete excess calcium.
When is this an emergency?
The normal blood calcium level for an adult should be between 8.5 - 10.3 mg/dL. If this level goes too high, it is a condition that requires emergency medical attention.
If you suddenly experience severe confusion, lightheadedness, vomiting, or severe abdominal pain , it could be a sign of a serious condition called hypercalcemia. If this happens, you should go to a hospital emergency room (ETU) immediately . There, you can be given IV fluids and medications to quickly control your calcium levels.
Take-Home Message
- Hypercalcemia is an elevated level of calcium in the blood. It is often discovered incidentally during a blood test done for another reason.
- The most common cause of this is a problem with the parathyroid glands or cancer, so it is very important to find the exact cause.
- Don't panic if you find out that your blood calcium is high. Talk to your doctor, find out the cause, and start the right treatment for it.
- Do not use any vitamins, calcium pills, or other supplements without consulting your doctor.
- If you develop severe symptoms such as confusion or loss of consciousness, it is an emergency. Go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
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