High Calcium levels - Medtick
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High Calcium levels

What is it?

Hypercalcaemia (high calcium levels in their blood) and is mainly caused by hyperparathyroidism (mild calcium levels normally condition is long term) and/or malignancy (cancer) (rapid rise of calcium levels) and/or insufficient calcium excretion from the kidneys.

Hypercalcemia may be classified based on total serum and ionized calcium levels, as follows:

  • Mild: Total Ca 10.5-11.9 mg/dL (2.5-3 mmol/L) or Ionized Ca 5.6-8 mg/dL (1.4-2 mmol/L)
  • Moderate: Total Ca 12-13.9 mg/dL (3-3.5 mmol/L) or Ionized Ca 8-10 mg/dL (2-2.5 mmol/L)
  • Hypercalcemic crisis: Total Ca 14-16 mg/dL (3.5-4 mmol/L) or Ionized Ca 10-12 mg/dL (2.5-3 mmol/L)
  • Only 1-2% of total body calcium is in the exchangeable form in circulation, and the rest forms part of the skeleton.
  • Only one half of the exchangeable calcium is in the active ionized form with the remainder bound to albumin, globulin, and other inorganic molecules.
  • Because calcium binds to albumin and only the unbound (free or ionized) calcium is biologically active, the serum level must be adjusted for abnormal albumin levels.
  • Protein binding of calcium is influenced by pH with metabolic acidosis leading to increased ionized calcium from reduced protein binding, and alkalosis leading to reduced ionized calcium from increased protein binding.

Medscape

Symptoms are based upon:

  • The level of calcium in the blood (mild levels usually show no symptoms).
  • How fast the rise occurs
  • Reoccurring medical conditions.

Serum calcium levels greater than approximately 15 mg/dL usually are considered to be a medical emergency and must be treated aggressively.

Cause

Vitamins, herbals and minerals

Medications

Symptoms

  • Headache which is on and off or a constant headache longer than 24 hours
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Increase thirst, heavy sweating and need to urinate frequently?
  • Dehydration?
  • Heart palpitations and/or irregular heartbeats?
  • One find passing stools difficult (can be painful) and constipated?
  • Sickness and nausea feeling?
  • Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting or vomiting longer than two days (one day if a child)?
  • Long term persistent indigestion and/or frequent heartburn and/or constant abdominal pain and swelling?
  • Loss of appetite?
  • Confusion?
  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • Twitching one’s nose and/or face and arms and/or legs?
  • Bone pain?
  • Irritated depressed and anxiety?
  • Low mood and Depression?
  • Difficult to concentrate and/or difficulty in concentrating and/or memory problems?
  • Hallucination?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency

And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

  • If one has symptoms of high level calcium and have cancer
  • Long QT syndrome
  • Severe confusion and lethargy

This condition can lead to:

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

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