Hypercalcemia is a higher than normal amount of calcium running around in your blood. A key regulator of calcium is a hormone produced by your parathyroid glands.
When the parathyroid hormone is overproduced, a hyperparathyroid condition is the most common cause of hypercalcemia.
Hypercalcemia caused by excess of parathyroid hormone is what’s known as primary hyperparathyroidism. This primary version is a result of an enlargement of your parathyroid glands, and you have four of these little numbers behind your thyroid gland which may grow toward an overabundance of calcium.
Other conditions and dietary causes leading to hypercalcemia are:
- kidney failure
- hyperthyroidism
- adrenal gland issue
- excessive vitamin D in diet
- long periods of no movement
- too much calcium in your diet
- thiazides ~ diuretic medication
- some cancerous tumors ~ lung, breast, myeloma
- inflammatory diseases ~ tuberculosis, sarcoidosis
- familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia ~ inherited condition
Hypercalcemia is not common and most often affects women over 50, usually due to hyperparathyroidism.
Hypercalcemia doesn’t always cause symptoms, and a blood test may be your source of revelation. However, hypercalcemia symptoms, when present, may include:
- bone pain
- irritability
- constipation
- poor appetite
- kidney stones
- loss of height
- excessive thirst
- abdominal pain
- lethargy/fatigue
- muscle twitches
- nausea/vomiting
- muscle weakness
- frequent urination
- muscle/joint aches
- confusion/memory loss
Severe hypercalcemia may require a hospital stay for intensive treatment.
Treatment for hypercalcemia cause by hyperparathyroidism may require surgical removal of an abnormal parathyroid gland in an effort to cure your too much calcium problem.
Severe hypercalcemia that is left untreated may cause other complications, such as:
- arrhythmia
- pancreatitis
- dehydration
- hypertension
- osteoporosis
- kidney stones
- kidney failure
- peptic ulcer disease
- nervous system dysfunction ~ confusion, dementia, coma
For post menopausal women, a delicate healthy balance must be established for providing your body enough, without too much, calcium. As with most things in a healthy life, you can get too much of a good thing. 1200 mg/day, from food and supplement, is the recommended adequate amount of calcium for this age group.
