Hypercalcemia, or elevated calcium in the blood (which means it will be described in detail below), is considered a common pathological condition that can develop for a variety of reasons. Its danger lies in the fact that in most cases it proceeds secretly, without any pronounced symptoms. If a person does not go to the hospital in a timely manner, then this disease can lead to the development of many serious health problems. Therefore, it is very important to know how the disease manifests itself, so that when the first signs are detected, treatment should begin immediately.
general information
Calcium is one of the most important macronutrients necessary for our body. He not only acts as a building material for bone tissue, but also takes part in almost all chemical and biological processes. In the absence of any health problems, its norm is 2.55 mmol / L. But due to various negative factors and diseases, people may experience increased calcium in the blood. What does it mean? The answer to this question interests everyone who has been given a similar diagnosis.
Hypercalcemia implies an increased content of calcium in the body. As a result of this, muscle tissues begin to absorb excess Ca, which negatively affects the functioning of all internal organs and systems, and also undermines overall vital activity. If you do not take any measures to regulate the calcium content in the blood, then the risk of developing many diseases of various etiologies is high. More details about them will be described later.
The value of calcium for the body
Let's dwell on this in more detail. As mentioned earlier, this element is one of the most significant. It plays an important role and performs the following functions:
- improves the conductivity of nerve impulses in muscle tissue;
- normalizes the work of the heart;
- participate in the production of many enzymes and hormones;
- strengthens bones and tooth enamel;
- increases blood coagulability;
- regulates the functioning of the parathyroid glands;
- improves metabolic processes;
- reduces the risk of allergic reactions;
- stabilizes the circulatory and nervous system;
- improves the mental and emotional state of a person.
Thus, the importance of Ca to the body is simply invaluable. If doctors find you have high blood calcium (what this means, qualified specialists can tell you in detail during the examination), then you need to immediately take a number of measures to bring its content to normal. For this, a course of drug therapy is prescribed and a special diet is selected, which must be adhered to until the disease completely disappears.
Why does hypercalcemia develop?
This aspect should be given special significance. If blood calcium is elevated, the causes may be different. According to medical statistics, in approximately 80% of cases, the blame is on endocrine diseases, among which the most common is primary hyperparathyroidism. Most often, it is observed in people with a malignant tumor. But there are a number of other negative factors that can provoke the development of pathology.
According to doctors, if the rate of calcium in the blood is increased, the reasons may be as follows:
- Hodgkin's disease.
- Burkita lymphoma.
- Immobilization.
- Hypernefrom.
- Lungs' cancer.
- Hemoblastosis.
- The increased content of vitamins A and D.
- Tuberculosis.
- Hormonal imbalance.
- Myeloma
- Mammary cancer.
- Adrenal insufficiency.
- Granulomatosis
- Squamous cell carcinoma.
- Sarcoidosis
- Renal failure.
- Burnett's syndrome.
- Thyroid dysfunction.
If calcium in the blood is elevated, the causes, as a rule, have a very different nature. They can even be associated with a genetic predisposition. Therefore, before starting therapy, it is very important to first establish the exact cause. For this, a special analysis is being carried out, which will be discussed a little later.
But the problem can not always be associated with any disorders in the body or diseases. For example, in women, elevated blood calcium may be due to menopause. In addition, hypercalcemia is often the result of prolonged use of certain medications. But it also happens that there can be several reasons, and they are closely related. In this case, a comprehensive examination and long-term treatment is required, which is selected individually for each patient, depending on the diagnosis and his state of health.
Possible complications
This aspect is worth exploring in the first place. If there is increased calcium in the blood, the symptoms in women and men appear the same. Their manifestation depends on the cause that led to the development of the disease. It is not necessary to ignore the clinical manifestations, since in the absence of treatment, the pathology will continue to progress, resulting in a high risk of various serious complications.
With hypercalcemia, accelerated leaching of calcium from bones occurs, which is fraught with a violation of the normal functioning of many internal organs and systems. In addition, the patient may develop the following complications:
- various cardiovascular diseases;
- frequent involuntary spasms of the arms and legs;
- renal failure;
- chronic cramps;
- osteoporosis;
- exacerbation of existing diseases occurring in a chronic form;
- malfunctions of the brain, liver and other organs;
- coma;
- heart failure;
- the formation of kidney stones;
- diabetes insipidus;
- suppression of water channels;
- tubulointerstitial kidney disease;
- renal tubular acidosis.
All these dangerous diseases develop in approximately 20 percent of patients who have been diagnosed with increased calcium in the blood (which this means has already been discussed earlier). If a person later went to the hospital, then the presence of concomitant pathologies can significantly complicate further therapy. Therefore, doctors urge, if you first suspect hypercalcemia, immediately go to the hospital to receive qualified medical care. The main danger in this case is that treatment does not always give the expected result and the patient manages to help. In very severe cases, which, fortunately, are not very common, patients fall into a coma and die over time.
Clinical manifestations
Let's dwell on this in more detail. Regardless of the cause of increased calcium in the blood, the symptoms of the disease are almost always identical. Therefore, at the examination, the doctors first conduct an oral survey of the patient in order to collect information about the present clinical manifestations. If a pathology is suspected, a general and ionized blood test is prescribed. These research methods are highly accurate and informative.
In most cases, the symptoms of the disease are manifested by the gastrointestinal tract. Patients face the following problems:
- decreased appetite;
- pain in the abdominal area;
- nausea and vomiting;
- persistent constipation.
A prolonged course of hypercalcemia can cause dehydration. In this case, the general condition and well-being of a person worsen and the following symptoms appear:
- general weakness;
- dizziness;
- sharp weight loss;
- urinary retention;
- periodic fainting;
- decreased brain activity;
- emotional instability;
- hallucinations;
- tachycardia;
- depression;
- numbness of the fingers of the upper and lower extremities;
- Twilight Confusion
- disordered thinking;
- dry skin;
- frequent mood swings;
- caries;
- lesions of the nails;
- poor hair condition;
- reduced physical ability;
- cramps
- poor blood coagulability;
- diffuse muscle pain;
- lethargy;
- increased urine formation;
- unquenchable thirst.
If a person has a high level of calcium in the blood, the causes should be established as soon as possible. If no action is taken, then the disease can lead to the patient falling into a coma. This is a dangerous condition that poses a great threat to life. Very often, it is not possible to withdraw patients from it, and everything ends in death.
Diagnosis of the disease
If, after an anamnesis, the doctor suspects the presence of a disease, general and ionized blood tests are prescribed. Calcium Elevated - What Does It Mean? A similar symptom indicates a deviation of the mineral content from the norm. This may indicate serious health problems.
A blood test is one of the most common clinical research methods with high information content. It allows you to detect many diseases associated with the skeleton, nervous system and internal organs at the earliest stages. Indications for its appointment are:
- malignant tumors of various etiologies;
- nervous disorders;
- pancreatitis
- various bone diseases;
- renal and liver failure;
- heterogeneous structure of the thyroid gland;
- parathyroid disease;
- problems of digestibility of nutrients;
- abnormalities detected during electrocardiography.
In addition to confirming increased calcium in the blood, a general analysis is used to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy in the treatment of many diseases. It shows how the body reacts to taking medications and what changes occur in it. It is also used to control side effects and reduce the risks of serious complications.
If there is a suspicion that elevated calcium in the blood, general tests are given on an empty stomach. In addition, the patient must undergo preliminary training. In order for the results to be most reliable, the patient must tell the doctor about all the medications taken. Before going to the hospital, it is recommended to refrain from eating and drinking. The examination may be delayed for some time if a person takes the following drugs:
- vitamin complexes;
- antacids;
- diuretics prescribed for hypertension;
- lithium used to treat mental disorders.
All these medicines affect the chemical composition of the blood, so the results may be incorrect. If a person consumes a lot of milk and dairy products, then he will also have deviations from the norm of Ca content. When examining a patient, doctors take into account lifestyle and quality of nutrition. In addition, increased calcium in the blood of women during pregnancy is often observed. In the case of expectant mothers, additional laboratory tests and consultations with doctors of other specialties may be required.
Drug therapy
In most cases, treatment of increased calcium in the blood is based on taking drugs that regulate the content of this mineral. What kind of drugs should be taken, the doctor decides on the basis of the diagnosis, the form and severity of the disease. In this case, therapy begins only after the increased content of calcium has been confirmed by laboratory tests. Otherwise, the likelihood of aggravation of the patient's condition and the development of many undesirable complications is high.
To achieve maximum effectiveness, treatment should be carried out taking into account the reason that led to the development of pathology. Only by eliminating it can normalize the level of calcium in the blood. There is no universal list of essential drugs for hypercalcemia. Each case is unique, so the final decision is made by the doctor. In the vast majority of cases, the course is based on the reception of:
- drugs aimed at eliminating the cause, which led to an increased content of calcium in the blood. It can be hormonal, cardiac and other medicines;
- drugs with a diuretic effect. They stimulate the elimination of excess calcium from the body, which helps to improve the well-being of the patient and accelerate his recovery.
Most often, treatment is carried out at home, but with too much calcium, which creates a threat to human life, emergency hospitalization is carried out. Throughout the entire course of therapy, doctors closely monitor the patient’s health and, if necessary, make appropriate adjustments to the treatment program.
Folk remedies
Many people are interested in the question: if calcium in the blood is elevated, what should I do? In alternative medicine, there are many ways in which this problem can be dealt with at home. Moreover, they can be used both as a basis for treatment and as additional methods to increase the effectiveness of drug therapy. But in the latter case, you must first consult with your doctor and agree on everything.
According to many experts in the field of traditional medicine, you can get rid of hypercalcemia if:
- Drink plenty of fluids daily. It is best suited to ordinary purified drinking water. But the key requirement is that it should not be too high rigidity. Otherwise, calcium will not be excreted, but rather accumulate in the body. Doctors say that the daily fluid rate for hypercalcemia is at least three liters.
- Proper nutrition. Everyday diet is the basis of health. It is from food that people get all the necessary vitamins and minerals. If you have been diagnosed with an excess of calcium, then from your menu you need to exclude all products that contain this mineral. This is a temporary measure. You can return to your usual diet after the disease is defeated. At a minimum, you should give up dairy products and herbs.
- Physical exercise. It can be exercise in the morning or exercise. Intensive training favorably affects the hormonal background, which gives a positive effect in the treatment of hypercalcemia. In addition, it is advisable to abandon bad habits and try to fully relax and get enough sleep.
As for specific recipes, a positive result can be achieved using various decoctions and infusions with a diuretic effect. But in the process of taking them, you need to take breaks, since abuse of them can be fraught with various health complications. Here are some good recipes:
- Take 2-3 tablespoons of rose hips, pour a liter of boiling water and let it brew for several hours.
- Mix 4 tbsp. l dried peppermint leaves and lingonberries, pour 1 liter of boiling water and leave for 2 hours in a dark place.
- Mix 3 tbsp. l bearberry and fennel seeds and pour a liter of boiling water. After the remedy is infused, drink it three times a day, 50 milliliters for two weeks.
Some healers also recommend taking decoctions and infusions prepared on the basis of nettle and parsley. However, this is not recommended, since these plants contain calcium, so you can achieve the exact opposite effect.
It is worth noting that hypercalcemia does not always imply an increased level of Ca in the body. There are times when its amount is much lower than normal. This raises the question of how to increase calcium in the blood. In this case, everything also depends on the cause of the development of the pathology, but most often it consists of vitamin deficiency. Therefore, in most cases, doctors prescribe a course of vitamin complexes to patients.
A few words about nutrition
Following a proper diet is one of the key success factors in treating hypercalcemia. For a while, you should refuse or at least reduce the consumption of the following products:
- salt;
- alcohol;
- carbonated drinks;
- black tea and coffee;
- confectionery.
To bring calcium levels to normal, it is recommended to eat more healthy foods. These include:
- green vegetables;
- tofu
- salmon and tuna;
- legumes;
- sea kale;
- eggs
- mushrooms;
- cereal flakes;
- fresh or baked fruits;
- broccoli.
It is worth noting that it is very difficult to independently plan your daily diet competently. Therefore, if you have found increased ionizing calcium in the blood, then it is worth consulting with a qualified specialist.
Conclusion
Calcium is one of the most important minerals our body needs. Therefore, its optimal content is very important for health. Fortunately, if you go to the hospital on time and immediately start treatment for hypercalcemia, then this pathology can be quickly defeated and a person can return to his usual and normal lifestyle. Therefore, when the first symptoms of the disease occur, do not hesitate, but immediately make an appointment with the doctor. In this case, you can avoid many serious problems.