5 reasons to take a blood test for calcium
Many people are sure that a lot of calcium in the body is good. But that’s not true. An excess of calcium can cause failure of vital systems in the body. Here are five reasons to get your calcium tested.
Today everyone knows about the dangers of high cholesterol. Moreover, many are worried about their health and have at least once been tested for cholesterol levels in their blood.
But in fact, it is much more important to control calcium levels, says the famous endocrinologist surgeon Viktor Makarin. Excessive levels of this macronutrient lead to serious health consequences and can cause “breakdown” of many vital systems in the body.
We know that lack of calcium leads to serious problems – for example, rickets in children, blood clotting disorders, capillary fragility, the formation of kidney stones, and bone curvature. But in practice, we still more often meet patients whose health problems are caused not by a lack of calcium, but by its excess, which in medicine is called hypercalcemia,” doctor Viktor Makarin told Doctor Peter.
Why is high calcium dangerous?
A long-term, chronic excess of calcium in the body contributes to its deposition throughout the body and blood vessels. Because of this, bones become more fragile, they are more susceptible to fractures, and the cardiovascular system suffers, because calcium is part of the heart muscle.
Also, due to an excess of calcium, chronic diseases in general are aggravated, malfunctions in the kidneys occur, convulsions and even a tendency to depression, sudden mood swings, mental instability, and hallucinations may appear.
What causes high calcium?
Elevated calcium is usually indicates some pathological process in the body.
- The main cause is primary hyperparathyroidism. This is a disease in which a tumor occurs in one or more parathyroid glands. We need these glands to maintain normal levels of calcium in the blood. And when a tumor appears in them, the cells of this gland stop correctly “reading” the calcium concentration: the body thinks that there is no calcium in the blood and begins to actively produce parathyroid hormone, which provokes the breakdown of bone tissue and the release of calcium from it into the blood.
That’s why; if calcium screening showed inflated results – You should immediately contact an endocrinologist.
“Don’t be afraid, a tumor is not always malignant; on the contrary, in percentage terms the probability that a tumor is cancerous is very small,” explains Victor Makarin. “But to avoid unpleasant health consequences, any tumor must be diagnosed as early as possible.
- Another reason for high calcium is long-term lack of physical activity. This happens after injuries, when a person has to recover lying down for a long time and is actually bedridden. This reason is also relevant for astronauts – when they spend a long time in conditions of weightlessness.
- Taking medicationscan also cause an increase in calcium. First of all, this applies to vitamin D and calcium supplements, and the use of dietary supplements without the consent of a doctor. That’s why Taking any vitamins should not occur uncontrolled, especially now – with the market oversaturated with non-certified brands.
Why do you need a calcium screening?
Hypercalcemia affects the functioning of all systems of our body – the failure of even one of them can already indicate an excess of calcium levels.
- The cardiovascular system. Calcium helps blood vessels contract and relax, thereby normalizing blood pressure. Hypertension, arrhythmia, calcification of valves and blood vessels is already a reason to get screened for calcium, and not just do an ultrasound of the heart and an ECG.Sometimes a hypercalcemic crisis even leads to cardiac arrest.
- Urinary system: excess calcium is dangerous due to the formation of oxalate stones in the kidneys. Such stones greatly injure the ureteral mucosa, causing intense pain and the appearance of blood in the urine. It happens that a patient who has undergone more than one (or even two) kidney operations has never been screened for calcium – and he has to contact urologists again and again. This indicates an incomplete diagnosis – in order to reduce the risk of repeated operations to remove stones, it is necessary to undergo calcium screening – most likely, a tumor of the parathyroid gland will be detected.
- Musculoskeletal system: muscle weakness, myalgia, arthralgia, bone pain, osteoporosis – if you encounter any symptoms, get tested for calcium.
- Gastrointestinal tract: a reason to get screened for calcium will be the presence of gastritis or peptic ulcer, especially in a situation where a gastroenterologist has not been able to cure you for a long time.
- Central nervous system: with hypercalcemia, disruptions in the central nervous system lead to depression, general and muscle weakness, fatigue, poor concentration, and drowsiness.
