Description

Hypercalcemia is a condition in which the calcium level in the blood is too high. Too much calcium in your blood can weaken your bones and create kidney stones. It can also affect the heart and the brain.

More often, hypercalcemia occurs after one or more of the parathyroid glands produce too much hormone. These four tiny glands found in the neck, near the thyroid gland. Other causes of hypercalcemia include cancer, certain other medical conditions and some medications. Taking too much of calcium and vitamin D supplements can also cause hypercalcemia.

Some people have no symptoms of this condition. Other symptoms that range from mild to severe. The treatment depends on the cause.

Symptoms

You may not have any symptoms if the hypercalcemia is mild. If it is more severe, the symptoms are related to the parts of the body affected by the high levels of calcium in the blood. Examples include:

  • Kidneys. Excess calcium causes the kidneys to work harder to filter. This can cause severe thirst and frequent urination.
  • The digestive system. Hypercalcemia can cause stomach upset or pain, vomiting, and constipation.
  • The bones and muscles. Most of the times, the excess calcium in the blood seeps into the bones. This weakens the bones. It can cause bone pain and muscle weakness.
  • Brain. Hypercalcemia may affect how the brain works. That can lead to difficulty concentrating, confusion, drowsiness and fatigue. It can also cause depression.
  • Heart. Rarely, serious hypercalcemia may affect the heart. It can cause feelings of a rapid heartbeat, palpitations or pounding heart. It can also cause the heart to beat out of rhythm. Is linked to other heart-related conditions as well.

When to see a doctor

Call your health care professional if you think you have any of the symptoms of hypercalcemia. These can include excessive thirst, frequent urination, and pain in the stomach area.

Causes

Calcium helps build strong bones and teeth. It also helps with the contraction of the muscles and the nerves send signals. When the parathyroid glands work right, they release hormones that help to maintain the balance of calcium in the blood. Parathyroid hormones trigger:

  • The bones to release calcium into the blood.
  • The digestive tract to absorb more calcium.
  • The kidneys to release less calcium and activate more vitamin D. Vitamin D plays a key role in the body's ability to absorb calcium.

This delicate balance between too little calcium in the blood and hypercalcemia may be affected by various factors. Hypercalcemia may be caused by:

  • The hyperfunction of the parathyroid glands. This is also called hyperparathyroidism. It is the most common cause of hypercalcemia. The hyperfunction of the parathyroid glands produce too much parathyroid hormone. The condition can come from a small tumor that is not cancer. It may also come from one or more of the four parathyroid glands, each time more.
  • Cancer. Lung cancer, breast cancer, and some cancers of the blood can increase the risk of hypercalcemia. Cancer that spreads to the bones, it also increases the risk.
  • Other diseases. Conditions such as tuberculosis and sarcoidosis may increase the blood levels of vitamin D. Which in turn stimulates the digestive tract to absorb more calcium.
  • Genetic factors. A rare genetic condition called familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia causes an increase of calcium in the blood. This condition does not cause symptoms or complications of hypercalcemia.
  • Little or no movement. People who have a condition that causes him to spend a lot of time sitting or lying position can be obtained from the hypercalcemia. Over time, the bones that do not support the weight of the release of calcium in the blood.
  • Severe dehydration. This is a common cause of mild short-term or hypercalcemia. Have less fluid in the blood causes an increase in calcium.
  • Some medications. Medications such as lithium and thiazide diuretics may cause more of the parathyroid hormone to be released.
  • Supplements. Taking too much calcium or vitamin D supplements over time can raise calcium levels in the blood.

Complications

Hypercalcemia may lead to medical conditions that include:

  • Osteoporosis. This condition involves the weakening of the bones. You could develop if the bones to maintain the release of calcium in the blood. Osteoporosis can lead to fractures of bones, curvature of the spine and loss of height.
  • Stones in the kidney. If the urine contains a lot of calcium, crystals may form in the kidneys. Over time, the crystals can be combined to form stones in the kidney. Passing a stone can be very painful.
  • The renal failure. This condition limits the ability of the kidneys to cleanse the blood and remove excess fluid. It can develop over time as hypercalcemia damage to the kidneys.
  • Diseases of the nervous system. Severity of hypercalcemia may lead to confusion, dementia, and coma. The Coma can be fatal.
  • The Irregular rhythm of the heart. This is also called arrhythmia. Hypercalcemia may affect the electrical signals that control the heartbeat. That can cause the heart to beat out of rhythm.

Diagnosis

Hypercalcemia can cause few or no symptoms. Therefore, you may not know you have it until routine blood tests show a high level of calcium. Blood tests can also show whether your parathyroid hormone level is high, which could be a sign of hyperparathyroidism.

If you have hypercalcemia, your health care professional looking for their cause. You might need imaging tests of the bones or the lungs. This helps to find out if the cause is a disease such as cancer or sarcoidosis.

Treatment

If hypercalcemia is mild, you may not need treatment right away. You and your healthcare provider can expect to see if the symptoms start or get worse. The bones and the kidneys can be reviewing from time to time to ensure that you stay healthy.

For the hypercalcemia that is more severe, your health care professional may recommend medications or treatment of the underlying disease. Sometimes, the treatment includes surgery.

Drugs

For some people, medications like these can be recommended:

  • Calcitonin (Miacalcin). This hormone salmon controls the levels of calcium in the blood. Mild upset stomach can be a side effect.
  • Calcimimetics. This type of drugs may help control the hyperactivity of the parathyroid glands. Cinacalcet (Sensipar) has been approved to manage hypercalcemia.
  • The bisphosphonates. These medications osteoporosis can rapidly reduce the levels of calcium when administered through a vein (IV). Often, they are used for the treatment of hypercalcemia due to cancer. Risks associated with this treatment include fractures of the thigh, as well as the breakdown of the jaw, called osteonecrosis.
  • Denosumab (Prolia, Xgeva). This medicine is often used to treat people with hypercalcemia caused by cancer that do not respond well to bisphosphonates.
  • The prednisone. The short-term use of oral steroids, such as prednisone, can help against the hypercalcaemia caused by high levels of vitamin D.
  • IVfluids and loop diuretics. Very high levels of calcium may be a medical emergency. You might need treatment with intravenous fluids in the hospital to rapidly reduce its level of calcium. This helps to prevent problems in the rhythm of the heart, or nervous system damage. You may also need medicines called loop diuretics if your calcium level is kept high. Or you might need them if excess fluid builds up in your body.

Surgical and other procedures

The conditions associated with hyperfunction of the parathyroid glands, and can often be cured by surgery to remove the tissue that is causing the problem. In many people, only one of the four parathyroid glands is affected. Before the surgery, a special scanning of the test involves getting a shot with a small amount of radioactive material. The material helps to identify the affected gland or glands.

Preparing for your appointment

You could start by seeing your primary healthcare professional. Then it is likely that you will have to be referred to a doctor called an endocrinologist, which is a hormonal conditions.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Before your appointment, make a list of:

  • Their symptoms. Include any that do not seem to be related to the reason for your check-up. Note when you began.
  • Key of the personal information. Include the major stresses or recent life changes, your medical history and your family's medical history.
  • All the drugs, vitamins, and other supplements that you take. Include the amount you take, called the dose.
  • Questions to ask your health care professional.

Have a family member or friend if you can. That person can help you remember the information they give you.

For hypercalcemia, basic questions to ask your health care team include:

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • What tests do I need?
  • What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
  • What side effects can I expect from treatment?
  • There are treatment options that may not be the one you're suggesting?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare provider will likely ask questions such as:

  • Is there something to improve your symptoms?
  • What, in any case, it makes your symptoms worse?
  • He has had kidney stones, fractures of the bones, or osteoporosis?
  • Do you have bone pain?
  • Do you have unexplained weight loss?
  • Have members of the family had hypercalcemia or kidney stones?
Symptoms and treatment of Hypercalcemia