Hypercalcemia – What it is, Symptoms and Treatments

Hypercalcemia – What it is, Symptoms and Treatments of this disease. In addition, Hypercalcemia is a condition of high concentration of calcium in the blood. Calcium plays important roles, such as helping to keep your bones healthy. However, too much of this can cause problems. Hypercalcemia makes calcium difficult to perform its normal functions.Hypercalcemia is usually discovered in a blood test , as it has no signs or symptoms, although weakness, mood swings, forgetfulness and mental confusion may appear, but which can be confused with symptoms of tired mind and Alzheimer’s in people over 55 years old. .

Causes of Hypercalcemia: The level of calcium in the blood is controlled by many factors, including parathyroid hormone.

Its Causes Are:

  • Lack of physical activity can cause bone to break, releasing calcium into the blood
  • Cancers that directly affect the bone or metastasize to the bones cause the bone to break down, causing the release of excess calcium into the blood .
  • Some cancers affect the kidneys ‘ ability to remove excess calcium from the blood .
  • Dehydration caused by nausea and vomiting makes it difficult for the kidneys to properly remove calcium from the blood .

Types of cancer that can cause hypercalcemia include breast, lung, multiple myeloma, lymphoma, leukemia, kidney, head and neck, and gastrointestinal cancers.

Symptoms of Hypercalcemia: You may not have symptoms if you havemild Hypercalcemia . If your Hypercalcemia is more severe, you may have symptoms that affect various parts of your body. The most common are:

Kidneys:  Symptoms related to your  kidneys  can lead to:

  • excessive thirst
  • excessive urination
  • Pain between the back and upper abdomen on one side

Abdomen:  Symptoms related to the abdomen include:

  • nausea
  • abdominal pain
  • decreased appetite
  • Constipation
  • vomit

Muscles: Calcium  levels   can affect your muscles, causing contractions and weakness.

Skeletal System:  High levels of  calcium  can also cause bone problems, including:

  • bone pain
  • height loss
  • hunched shoulders
  • curvature of the spine
  • disease fractures

Psychological Symptoms: Hypercalcemia can also cause psychological symptoms such as depression, memory loss and irritability. If you have cancer and experience any symptoms of hypercalcemia , speak to your doctor right away. Hypercalcemia is a medical emergency in people with cancer.

Hypercalcemia Treatments: Hypercalcemia treatments aredone according to its severity.

Mild cases:  If you have mild hypercalcemia , your doctor may suggest simply keeping track of your condition and waiting to see if it improves or worsens on its own.

Severe Cases:  You may need hospital treatment if you have a case of severe hypercalcemia . The goal of treatment is to return your calcium level to normal. Treatment is also aimed at preventing damage to bones and kidneys . Treatment options include the following:

  • Calcitonin is a hormone produced in the thyroid gland. This slows down bone loss.
  • Intravenous fluids keep you hydrated.
  • Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory drugs. They help your body handle too much vitamin D.
  • Loop diuretic medications can help the kidneys function and get rid of extra calcium .
  • Intravenous bisphosphonates can keep your bones from breaking.
  • Dialysis can be given to rid your blood of extra calcium and waste products when you have damaged kidneys . This is only done if other treatment methods are not working.

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