There is a saying: "You can buy medicine, but you cannot buy health for any money." We are ready to do a lot to have it. Therefore, recently, preventive medicine, rather than medical medicine, has come to the fore. In order to prevent the disease in time, it is necessary to periodically do tests, monitor the indicators of trace elements in the body, and also, if there is the slightest deviation, consult a specialist.
The importance of calcium in our body
Calcium plays a significant biological role in the body, so it is important to know what is the norm of calcium in the blood. Its main tasks are aimed at:
- iron metabolism;
- maintaining a normal heart rate and the entire cardiovascular system;
- blood coagulability, where good permeability in cell membranes is activated;
- regulation of enzymatic activity;
- normalization of the work of some of the endocrine glands;
- dental health;
- bone strength;
- rhythmic muscle contraction;
- normalization of the central nervous system;
- getting rid of insomnia.
The rate of calcium in the blood helps a person to feel active, cheerful and calm. After all, he takes part in many systems and organs.
In what chemical processes of the body is this element involved?
Calcium is a very common and vital element for humans. They are especially attentive to its content in the children's body, because the norm of calcium in the blood in babies determines their development. The bulk of calcium is contained in the bones, being a skeleton for our skeleton and strengthening it, it is also the basis for the growth and development of teeth, and is part of the nails and hairline. The high content of this trace element in the bones is due to the fact that they serve as a reservoir for us.
Calcium is indispensable, it is found in almost every cell of the human body. A particularly large amount of it is contained in the cells of nerves, muscles and the heart. A trace element is necessary in order for nerve impulses to be transmitted, and therefore it is contained wherever neurons function. These organs include the brain, as well as nerve cells with endings (axons and dendrites). Muscles also use calcium to normalize their work.
High concentration of calcium is in the blood, it is through it that it enters the muscles, bones, or vice versa leaves the bones. Thus, it ensures the normal functioning of organs and the body as a whole. The norm of calcium in the blood is 2.50 mmol / l in an adult.
What conditions indicate problems with calcium in the body?
With a lowered and elevated level of this element in the blood, a number of symptoms are observed, manifesting themselves in different ways.
With hypocalcemia (insufficient amount of calcium in humans), some pathological processes may occur, which are the body's call for examination and treatment.
Mental symptoms are accompanied by:
- headaches, which are often similar to migraines;
- dizziness.
On the part of the skin and bones, hypocalcemia can occur:
- with dry skin with the subsequent appearance of cracks;
- with caries in the teeth;
- with damage to the nail plate;
- with profuse hair loss;
- with osteoporosis (violation of bone density).
Violation of the neuromuscular system is characterized by:
- sharp weakness;
- tetanic convulsions after excessively intensified reflexes.
Disorder of the cardiovascular system entails:
- prolonged blood coagulation;
- heart rate increase;
- coronary heart disease.
Conditions for hypercalcemia are somewhat different from the previous ones, this allows the doctor to understand that the patient has calcium higher than normal in the blood.
Violation of the central nervous system and muscles is characterized by:
- headache;
- loss of orientation in space;
- vomiting, nausea;
- general weakness of the body;
- fatigue;
- increased intensity and number of reflex actions;
- in some cases, immobility.
Disorder of the cardiovascular system entails:
- calcium deposition on the walls of blood vessels;
- increased heart rate and untimely work;
- insufficiency of the functions of this body.
Also, very often there is a lack of urination and, as a result, renal failure.
What hormones regulate calcium production?
The production of any trace elements in the human body is regulated by special substances called hormones. The calcium content in the blood (the norm of which is in the range of 2.50 mmol / l) is also under their control.
Calcitonin helps regulate calcium metabolism. It is produced by the thyroid gland, is one of the main informants that determine the presence of malignant neoplasms in the body.
Osteocalcin, it appears through the formation of bone tissue by special cellular structures.
Paratinin produces an interchange of calcium. It stands out from the cells of the parathyroid gland.
Cortisol is the most active hormone of glucocorticoids. It produces the adrenal cortex, it takes control of the production of other hormones and absolutely all the processes in the body associated with synthesis.
Aldosterone It carries out water-salt metabolism: it retains sodium salts, and removes potassium salts from the body.
Growth hormone is responsible for growth. It regulates mainly the growth of bone tissue, as well as organs and muscles.
The function of adrenogenital hormone of the adrenal cortex is aimed at maintaining the condition of the genital organs and at the development of distinctive signs.
Corticotropin is produced from the anterior pituitary gland. It activates the production of cortisol, regulates the appearance of hormones and normalizes metabolism.
An analysis to detect the amount of this element in the blood
Muscle cramps, nervousness, prolonged insomnia, as well as diseases such as cachexia, liver failure, spinal tuberculosis are direct indications for this calcium test. This effective examination method allows doctors to determine the amount of calcium and its content in the blood. Calcium in a blood test, the norm of which is always written as a result, is accurately determined only if the rules of preparation for the study are observed. Spend it in the morning (do not take food for 8-12 hours), physical activity for this period is excluded, alcohol is not consumed. If it is not possible to take an analysis in the morning, then blood sampling is performed after a 6-hour fast, while fats are excluded from morning meals. The use of dairy products, cabbage and nuts is strictly prohibited, as they are the main source of calcium.
The rate of calcium in the blood of an adult and a child
In an adult, this element occupies only 1% of the total amount of calcium in all organs, tissues and systems. Therefore, the level of calcium in the blood (its norm) is a small range, only 2.15 - 2.50 mmol / l. Deviations from these values already seriously affect our body.
Adult studies are different from childhood tests. Not an exception is the analysis of calcium in the blood. The norm in newborn babies is 1.75 mmol / l, in children of the first month 2.2-2.5 mmol / l. In adolescents under 14 years of age, the content of this element is 2.3-2.87 mmol / L.
The difference between total calcium and ionized
Total calcium is localized mainly in bone tissue. It actively interacts with blood serum ions. The main task of total calcium is to eliminate its fluctuations in serum.
Ionized calcium is in no way associated with proteins, so it is also called free. He, although in smaller quantities is in the human body, but performs very important functions. Metabolism, secretory function, cell growth, muscle contraction and much more regulate ionized calcium in the blood. The norm of this element is as important as the general.
The total calcium in the bones is approximately 99%. It contains ionized calcium in the blood (the norm of which is 1%) only in blood serum.
Hypocalcemia, causes
If the calcium content in the blood (the norm of which is noted above) is much lower than the prescribed value, you need to find out the reasons for this condition. Among them, the following are often found.
- Lack of vitamin D in the body.
- Minimum intake of calcium with food.
- Pathological processes in which there is a violation of absorption. These include bowel resection, pancreatic insufficiency, and frequent diarrhea.
- Rickets.
- Oncological diseases.
- Chronic sepsis.
- Low mobility (lack of exercise).
- Allergic reactions.
- Violation of the liver due to damage by toxins (poisoning after drinking alcohol or exposure to heavy metal products).
- Taking medications (interleukins or corticosteroids).
- Increased estrogen content.
If such conditions occur in a person’s life, then an analysis can be done to determine the total calcium in the blood. The norm will indicate that organs and systems are not affected by the pathological process.
How can I increase the content of this trace element in the body?
In order for there to be a norm of calcium in human blood, it is necessary to carry out some actions. Firstly, you need to contact a specialist, since you yourself will not be able to determine the reasons for such a deviation. Secondly, if there are no serious reasons for low calcium (complex diseases or cancerous tumors), its level can be adjusted by diet.
The main products containing calcium are hard cheese, cottage cheese, sesame and its oil, eggs, milk, sour-milk products, herbs, nuts. On average, a person should consume from 800 to 1200 mg of calcium per day.
Hypercalcemia, why does it occur?
If hypocalcemia is easier to treat, and a person recovers faster, then a condition in which calcium is much higher than normal can not always be corrected. This is because the causes of high calcium are serious diseases, such as:
- heart failure;
- leukemia;
- pneumonia;
- Addison's disease ;
- peritonitis;
- pneumonia;
- hepatitis;
- cancer;
- hyperthyroidism.
What needs to be done to keep calcium levels high?
One effective way is to use soft water. It should be drunk no more than 2 months, since other important elements can come out with calcium. Light therapy is also used by injecting saline into the human body. But with all this, it is important to determine the causes of increased levels of calcium, so as not to miss a serious illness.