Causes of calcium in the blood are increased. The main hormones that affect the amount of Ca. Why do you need a blood calcium test?

To date, scientists have been able to identify quite a few conditions that can cause hypercalcemia - an increase in the level. The reasons for this condition are still under investigation. This deviation is often asymptomatic, therefore, as a rule, it is detected after passing the tests.

Taking into account the physiology of calcium metabolism, the main reason why the level of calcium concentration can increase is its increased mobilization from bone tissues as a result of osteoresorption processes occurring in the body. Also the cause of hypercalcemia (ionized and general level element is increased) calcium absorption can become intestinal department or its excessive reabsorption by the kidneys.

Symptoms of high blood calcium

One of the main reasons for this condition, the doctor usually finds out when taking an anamnesis - for example, the patient's diet contains too much calcium-containing foods, or the patient takes pharmacological agents containing a high concentration of calcium. However, the most effective and surest method to find out if a person really has increased calcium is general analysis blood. When diagnosing, two types of calcium are observed - ionized and total.

The most common symptoms of hypercalcemia from the gastrointestinal tract:

loss of appetite;
soreness in the abdomen;
nausea;
frequent constipation;
vomit.

If present in the blood increased content this element, dehydration may occur. Symptoms of this condition usually have a pronounced character - dizziness, loss of consciousness, weight loss.

weakness;
emotional instability;
hallucinations;
confusion;
delusional states;
coma.

You may also notice symptoms such as heart rate, tachycardia. In advanced cases, death occurs.

There is also a condition in which the Ca content in the patient's blood is constantly elevated - this is chronic hypercalcemia. In this case, stones begin to form in the kidneys, which contain calcium. Symptoms - severe pain in the lumbar region, edema, urinary retention.

Main

In 80 percent of cases, high calcium levels are caused by a disease such as primary hyperparathyroidism. In turn, this disease occurs in 50 percent of people who suffer from cancer. Most often, hyperparathyroidism occurs in women who have reached the menopause period.

The disease can occur as a result of prolonged stimulation of the parathyroid glands by a decrease in calcium in the blood. Therefore, for this disease, which in most cases is associated with renal failure (often chronically occurring), it will not be characterized by an increased calcium content, but by normo- or hypocalcemia.

The most common reasons why hypercalcemia can develop are:

primary, tertiary, isolated hyperparathyroidism;
Hodgkin's lymphoma, Burkit;
among women, breast cancer;
tuberculosis;
malignant neoplasm of the lungs;
myeloma;
hypernephroma;
granulomatosis;
squamous cell carcinoma;
sarcoidosis;
diseases associated with dysfunction thyroid gland, symptoms - hormonal disorders;
the level of vitamin A and D is increased;
alkaline milk syndrome can be one of the reasons why the calcium content in the blood is increased;
excess prolactin and somatotropin;
malignant tumors;
immobilization.

All of the above causes in some cases can be combined, so let's consider the causes and symptoms of increased calcium in the blood in more detail.

Hematological tumor diseases

Lymphosarcoma, myeloma, lymphoma affect bone tissue, resulting in the production of cytokines. They, in turn, stimulate osteoclasts, thus causing resorption of bone tissue, and contribute to the formation of diffuse osteopenia and osteolytic transformations.

Malignant neoplasms

An increased level of this element in 50 percent of cases calls for neoplasms of the mammary glands, with the presence of metastases in the bones. Such patients are prone to osteoresorption as a result of local synthesis of prostaglandins or destruction of bone tissue.

Such metastases, as a rule, can be detected after special examinations - scintigraphy or X-rays. The level of examinations should be on top, as well as the specialization of the doctor.

In some cases elevated level calcium also occurs in patients who have malignant neoplasms that are not accompanied by tissue metastasis. This condition can occur in people who are prone to squamous cell carcinoma, ovarian or breast cancer. Thanks to recent studies, it was possible to find out that malignant neoplasms in very rare cases can produce parathyroid hormone.

Sarcoidosis

This disease can cause an increase in calcium in the blood in 20 percent of cases, and with hypercalciuria - in 40 percent. These symptoms have also been described by specialists in other granulomatous diseases - for example, tuberculosis, coccidioidomycosis, berylliosis, etc.

Diseases associated with the endocrine system

ionized increased calcium can be observed with acromegaly, thyrotoxicosis, pheochromocytoma, excess prolactin, hypocorticism, etc. The reasons for such conditions are that the lack of certain hormones leads to the fact that the process of mineralization is reduced, and some hormones are able to stimulate the activity of osteoclasts, which causes increased calcium.

The use of certain pharmacological drugs

Thiazide diuretics can increase calcium reabsorption, that is, both ionized and total calcium in the blood increase.

The impact on the body of lithium preparations has not yet been fully studied. Many experts argue that lithium has the ability to interact with receptors, gradually reducing their sensitivity, causing hyperplasia and hypertrophy with regular use.

If the reasons why total calcium is elevated are not established, in this case, doctors recommend temporarily refraining from using lithium-based drugs. Another established fact: lithium can lower the activity of thyroid cells, which leads to hypothyroidism. This condition can also involve hormonal mechanisms for increasing calcium in the blood.

Milk Alkaline Syndrome

Occurs in people who seek to eliminate the symptoms of ulcers and gastritis by using alkalized drugs, or by eating too much cow's milk. In this case, the high content of calcium in the blood is reversible. If it is this factor that causes such a condition, then it is worth forgetting about treating an ulcer in such ways and starting another therapy, after consulting with your doctor first.

Ionized calcium must be present in the body, however, an increase in its concentration in the blood can be accompanied by serious violations of the kidneys.

Iatrogenic causes

Ionized calcium may increase as a result of prolonged immobilization ( this phenomenon means that there is no load on the skeleton). The content of calcium in the blood may increase already a few weeks after the indication bed rest(for example, after surgical interventions etc.).

In a child, these conditions rarely occur, people are more prone to an increase in calcium in the blood. old age. Ionized calcium in the blood of infants is most often elevated as a result of genetic abnormalities.

From childhood, we are advised to eat more dairy products, as they are rich in bone-healthy calcium. But this element is necessary not only for our skeleton, but also for blood, muscles, and nerve fibers. There are 2 forms of calcium: ionized and bound. Ionized calcium is not bound to proteins, so it circulates freely in the blood. A blood test for calcium plays a significant role in diagnosing the state of the body. Thanks to its information content, you can choose the right dosage of drugs. According to its data, it is possible to judge the metabolism minerals in the body.

Protein-bound calcium does not have such a significant effect on the body. This is the state of Ca at the time of transport.

What is calcium for?

Calcium is one of essential elements human body. It influences the flow metabolic processes. Blood contains two fractions of this element - ionized and bound. The composition of the bound may include plasma proteins, citrates, phosphates. This form of calcium makes up 55% of the total volume in blood plasma. 40% of them are associated with protein, 15% are phosphorus and citrate.

It turns out that 45% of blood plasma remains for active ionized calcium. In this state, calcium is capable of much. Here is a list of useful functions that it performs:

Promotes the growth and development of bone tissue;

Stimulates neurotransmitter secretion, thereby improving conductivity nerve fibers, since without this substance the transmission of neural impulses throughout the body is impossible;

It is one of the elements involved in the process of blood clotting;

Stabilizes the enzyme activity of the body;

Affects the intensity of muscle and heart contractions;

Reduces the permeability of the walls of blood vessels, thereby protecting them from exposure harmful substances.

The level of ionized calcium in the blood is important for the body. That is where he tries to send it in the first place. Therefore, if a person's teeth began to hurt or the bones became brittle, this is a clear signal of a mineral deficiency. Incidentally, calcium also plays an important role in regulating blood pressure. Another of its functions is to strengthen the immune system and activate most hormones and enzymes.

The bound form is less productive. Experts believe that deviations up or down are not always a symptom of a failure in the metabolic process.

A person should consume 850-1300 mg of calcium per day. The main thing is not to overdo it, since the upper limit is 2500 mg. However, there are times when increased consumption of this element is justified. For example, in the blood of pregnant women, or during lactation. The body's need for Ca also increases in athletes.

What to do to provide the body with this essential trace element? You should add the following foods to your diet:

From cereals - this is buckwheat;

From fruits - oranges;

Dairy;

legumes;

Helps absorb calcium vitamin D group. It is often prescribed by pediatricians for newborns and older children.

There are also foods that interfere with the absorption of ionized calcium. These include:

Palm oil. It is found in different products where you need to replace natural milk fat with various cheap "ersatz";

Some types of animal fats;

Sweets that have an alkaline reaction. For example, some sweets.

Norms for different age groups

The norm of the ionized mineral for each age group is different. The table below shows the numbers that the analysis for ionized calcium should show. Otherwise, the value obtained is considered a deviation from the norm.

In a child, ionized Ca is increased when compared with the adult category. This phenomenon is explained by the intensive growth of bones, which shows the high need of the body for this element. This situation lasts in children until they reach the age of 16.

During pregnancy;

During lactation;

When taking contraceptives.

Who should have the procedure?

Most often, knowing the level of total calcium in the blood is enough to assess the process of mineral metabolism, since the ratio of free (45%) and bound (55%) forms is constant. But in any rule there are exceptions, so for some people this ratio is violated. Therefore, it is advisable to conduct another type of study - an analysis for ionized calcium.

Significant fluctuations in the content of calcium ions have certain symptoms:

Unstable rhythm of the heart muscle. She speeds up, then slows down her pace;

Muscle spasms;

Disturbances of consciousness.

The following conditions may serve as indications for donating blood for research:

cancerous tumors;

Preparation before the operation;

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;

convulsions;

Pathology of the kidneys and urinary tract;

Changes in the cardiovascular system;

Pain in muscles and bones;

Low level proteins in the blood (hypoproteinemia).

So if you fall into one of these categories, then do not delay the study, as it will help you choose the right dosage of the necessary medication and make the course of therapy more effective.

Preparing and conducting analysis

In order for the result of the analysis for the level of calcium to be normal and undistorted by various factors, it is necessary to prepare for it. Here is a small list of rules to follow:

Rent biomaterial on an empty stomach. Last reception food should be 12 hours ago;

You can smoke 1 hour before visiting the laboratory;

Heavy loads are also excluded before the analysis;

Many drugs can raise or lower calcium levels in the body. Therefore, 14 days before the test, you should refrain from taking them. Naturally, you should first consult with your doctor on this issue. If the doctor did not allow to interrupt the course of treatment, then the medications taken and their dosage will be indicated on the form of the study.

For analysis, we will take venous blood. Currently in medical practice Two methods are used to determine the level of free calcium:

For total calcium;
Directly to the ionized form.

The first method is less expensive, therefore it is available in almost any state laboratory. It is funded by the CHI policy. The second method is more informative. It allows not only to establish an accurate diagnosis, but also to develop an individual course of treatment.

Highly important condition is to conduct a study within 2 days after blood sampling. Otherwise, prolonged exposure to air may distort the results by increasing the reference value of calcium ions. So you will receive a form with the results of the analysis after 3 days.

Not the last role is played by the time of day when the biomaterial is taken for analysis. It is preferable to make a fence in the morning. If the biomaterial is taken in the evening, active calcium is likely to be higher than normal.

Reduced rate

If the patient's calcium ion level is low, the following symptoms indicate this:

With these symptoms, hypocalcemia is diagnosed. The reasons that caused similar condition different in nature:

Vitamin D deficiency;

Extensive burn injuries;

Lack of magnesium in the blood;

Period after surgical intervention;

The intestine does not absorb calcium well;

Metabolic alkalosis (violation of the acid-base state).

You should know that such a condition with an indicator of less than 0.7 mmol / l is critical and threatens with the possibility of death.

Increased score. Hypercalcemia

Hypercalcemia is a disease in which there is too much calcium in the blood. The test results in this case are more than 2.6 mmol / l. At this concentration, a calcium precipitate is formed in the vessels, liver and kidney tissue, which makes them brittle. The risk of developing heart failure is high. Hypercalcemia on early stage characterized by the following symptoms:

Nausea;

Lack of appetite;

Intensive work of the kidneys;

Calcium plays a role in the human body essential role, because this element performs a huge set physiological functions, is one of the main extracellular components involved in blood coagulation processes. Everyone knows that calcium is essential for building a strong skeleton and teeth, but other than that, it is indispensable assistant when conducting heart contractions and nerve impulses, as well as in the work of the endocrine glands.

The body of an adult contains approximately 1.5 kg of calcium, and 99% of the total amount is concentrated in bone tissue, and only 1% is present in the blood.

To determine the concentration of an element in the blood serum, a person undergoes a biochemical blood test for calcium. This study is necessary if the specialist has suspicions of a violation of the level of Ca, which leads to various diseases and destabilization of many important processes in the body. In this article, we will consider all the details regarding this analysis, what is needed for, what should be the rate of calcium in the blood, and what deviations may indicate.

Why do you need a blood calcium test?

To understand the whole point this study, it should be noted that calcium in the blood occurs in 3 states:

in free state, it is called ionized calcium;
in combination with anions (lactate, phosphate, bicarbonate, etc.);
in combination with proteins (as a rule, this is serum albumin protein).

Prerequisites for the appointment of an analysis to determine the level of Ca, there may be a suspicion of osteoporosis, as well as some pathological conditions musculoskeletal system. Also, an analysis can be prescribed for specific patient complaints of bone ache, muscle pain, excessive tooth decay or fragility of the nail plate, with frequent fractures of the limbs. Calcium analysis is also carried out before carrying out surgical operations.

Most often, an analysis is carried out for total calcium in the blood and for ionized. The second option is more informative, since the element “in a bundle” does not affect the functionality in the body as much as the free particles of this thing. Although the cost of a blood test for ionized calcium will be more expensive, but the determination of its level will be a more reliable indicator in the diagnosis of various diseases.

Only a doctor with the appropriate level of qualification should decipher the results of the analysis. The specialist analyzes the patient's condition, taking into account not only the indicators in the blood, but also clinical picture, existing symptoms and anamnesis of the person.

Therefore, we can consider only the average norms of the level of calcium in the blood of healthy person.

When passing an analysis to determine the overall level of Ca, the following values \u200b\u200bare considered the norm:

for children from 0 to 12 months - 1.9-2.6 mmol / l;
for children from one year to 14 years old - 2.3-2.87 mmol / l;
for the adult population - 2.2-2.55 mmol / l.

Standard values for different age categories will vary slightly, but on average it is considered to be the norm of the border from 2.16 to 2.6 mmol per liter.

It should be noted that the rate of calcium in the blood in women during pregnancy and lactation decreases, since part of the substance goes to the development of the bones of the fetus and child. But at the same time, the body's need for this element increases, therefore daily rate calcium for pregnant and lactating mothers is very high and ranges from about 1000 to 1300 mg.

When ionized calcium in the blood is checked, the norm should be within the following limits:

in babies up to a year - 1.03-1.37 mmol / l;
in children under 16 years old - 129-1.31 mmol / l;
in adults - 1.17-1.29 mmol / l.

The reasons for the deviation of the level must be identified, because too low or too high calcium in the blood, entails certain pathological changes in the body. Can be assigned reanalysis to refute or confirm the existing deviations, and then further examination, diagnosis and appropriate treatment measures will be prescribed.

Increased calcium in the blood, what does it mean?

The condition when an increase in the concentration of a trace element of more than 2.5-2.6 mmol / l is detected is called hypercalcemia. If the calcium in the blood is significantly increased, this should be a significant cause for concern. There are enough different states and pathologies in the body that provoke an increase in the level of Ca.

Most Likely the following reasons increased calcium in the blood, all of them are quite dangerous for the body.

Primary hyperparathyroidism

The essence of the disease is the appearance of tumors on the parathyroid (or they are also called parathyroid) glands, which are responsible for stabilizing the level of calcium in the blood.

These glands are able to capture the concentration of calcium in the blood and, in the event of a deficiency of this element, secrete parathyroid hormone, which increases the level of calcium in the blood due to the destruction of bone tissue with the release of calcium or due to more intensive absorption of calcium in the kidneys and from the intestines. When tumors appear on the glands, parathyroid hormone begins to be released, even if there is a correspondence to the norm of calcium in the blood. In this way, bone structures break down, releasing excess calcium into the blood.

Malignant neoplasms and other tumor diseases.

Any tumor formations have a significant effect on bone tissue including the formation of cytotoxins. An increase in calcium in the blood in women is often found in the development of cancers in the ovaries or mammary glands.

Overuse products with high content Ca, as well as an excess of vitamin D in the body, which contributes to the good absorption of the microelement, leads to the fact that calcium metabolism is disturbed, its excretion slows down and the content of the cation in the blood increases.

Total calcium increased in the blood can be with the following pathologies:

with acute kidney failure;
with ailments of the gastrointestinal tract, including with a small amount of production gastric juice;
with tuberculosis of the spine;
with dehydration;
ionized calcium can be increased even with a sedentary, "sedentary" lifestyle and prolonged immobilization (lack of load on the skeleton), usually this only applies to the elderly, in infants this indicator usually increases as a result of genetic or hereditary abnormalities.

Symptoms of an excess of calcium in the body

Hypercalcemia may be asymptomatic, but the patient may show some specific signs of this condition, for example:

headache;
nausea or vomiting;
constant feeling thirst;
constipation;
distraction, emotional instability, sometimes mental disorders up to hallucinations;
in chronic hypercalcemia, the patient often has lumbar and stomach pains, swelling of the limbs, and problems with urination.

Why is increased calcium in the blood dangerous, and how to remove excess calcium from the body?

An excess of the mineral in question in the human body is often the result of prolonged intake of certain medicines and the development of certain diseases. This fact should not be ignored.

The fact is that excess calcium is not excreted by the body. naturally, which means it will concentrate in the kidneys and subsequently provoke the development urolithiasis. Also, this chem. the trace element is able to settle on the walls of blood vessels, contributing to the development of stenosis and cardiovascular ailments. Suffer from hypercalcemia and muscles. In advanced cases, a person develops mental and emotional disorders.

It should be noted that the question of how to lower calcium in the blood must be decided by a highly qualified specialist. You can independently improve your condition and normalize the indicator, a person can only change his diet and lifestyle. Since calcium enters the body exclusively with food, it is first necessary to exclude or minimize the consumption of foods with a high content of Ca, to a greater extent these are:

cheese, kefir and cottage cheese;
sardine;
bread of wheat varieties;
halva;
sesame and Sesame oil;
almond;
black chocolate.

Now you know the main purpose of calcium, its excess, as well as its deficiency, can harm the body, so maintaining calcium levels in the blood serum is important for health. But, it should be remembered that if deviations of the indicator are detected, the last word in making a diagnosis must necessarily remain with a specialist, only a doctor will help to find out the cause of this condition and propose measures to normalize it.

Listen to yourself and take care of your health!

Calcium is one of the main macroelements necessary for the normal functioning of the human body. Ca contained in the bloodstream is only 1% of the total macronutrient, most of which is found in bone tissue.

However, even by analyzing the level of calcium in the blood, it can be concluded that there are certain problems.

The norm and role of Ca in the body

The level of calcium in the blood is at around 2 - 2.8 mmol / l. There is also an indicator of ionized Ca, its amount is from 1 to 1.4 mmol / l. This is just an example, more detailed information you will find in the following table:

Age and gender	Normal level Ca, mmol/l	Level of ionized Ca, mmol/l
newborns	1,9 – 2,6	1 – 1,3
3 months - 2 years	2,25 – 2,75	1,1 – 1,37
Boys and girls 2 – 12 years old	2,2 – 2,7	1,1 – 1,31
Women 12 - 50 years old	2,2 – 2,5	1,1 – 1,25
Men 12 - 50 years old	2,1 – 2,55	1, 05 – 1,26
People over 50	2,2 – 2,5	1,1 – 1,25

It is difficult to overestimate the role of this trace element for the body. It is found in large quantities in the bones, being the basis of their strength. Ca, together with phosphorus, is part of hydroxyapatite, a mineral that is responsible for maintaining the normal structure of bone tissue.

What are the functions of calcium in the body?

Here are some of the functions that calcium performs in the human body:

It plays the role of a neurotransmitter - a transmitter of nerve impulses, which is involved in the contraction of striated muscles.
Helps the heart to work in a normal rhythm.
Included in many enzymes.
Along with phosphorus, it helps to strengthen tooth enamel.
Ca is one of the components of the blood coagulation system. Without it, self-stopping of bleeding would be impossible. Calcium promotes the formation of a blood clot in the serum, which attaches to the wound defect, blocking the blood flow.
Regulates the secretory activity of the parathyroid glands. Low calcium levels lead to the production of parathyroid hormone, which draws calcium from bone reserves. Therefore, it is very important to maintain the level of this element in the normal range every day in order to avoid damage to bone tissue.

Sharp rise The general level of Ca in the blood is called hypercalcemia. With this condition, a number of symptoms can be observed, such as heart rhythm disturbances, nausea, polyuria and others.

How does the body regulate calcium levels?

The main hormones that affect the amount of Ca:

Parathormone- a hormone that increases the amount of Ca in the blood, is synthesized in the parathyroid glands when an increased level of phosphorus and a decrease in the amount of calcium are observed in the blood. Normalizes blood Ca by extracting the element from the bones, as well as enhancing its reabsorption by the kidneys.
Calcitonin- a parathyroid hormone antagonist substance, the action of which is directed in the opposite direction. It works with an increase in the content of Ca, promotes the mineralization of bone tissue, the excretion of the macroelement in the urine.
Calcitriol- the active form of vitamin D, which regulates the absorption of calcium in the intestines. Without this substance, it is practically not absorbed, so the level of Ca directly depends on vitamin D, the lack of which leads to hypocalcemia.

Why is calcium levels low and how to recognize it?

A reduced level of this element is called hypocalcemia. One of the most common causes of this condition is the lack of proteins that are involved in Ca transport.

In this case, the overall level of the macroelement in the blood falls. Ionized calcium remains normal as this form of the mineral does not bind to serum proteins.

The lack of proteins (mainly albumin) can have many causes:

Lack of protein in food;
hereditary diseases;
Liver diseases affecting the protein-synthesizing function of the organ, etc.

Calcium levels are also falling due to a number of other reasons:

If even non-critical calcium deficiency is detected, it is worth thinking about correcting the diet and including vitamin-mineral complexes in the diet. This will help keep functional state body at the right level.

Include the following foods in your daily diet:

Milk, hard cheese, cottage cheese;
Sea fish, caviar;
legumes;
Broccoli, cabbage.

You can correct a slight deficiency of Ca by yourself by eating foods containing calcium.

Chocolate, nuts, cocoa interfere with the absorption of the macronutrient. It is necessary to take specialized drugs to increase calcium levels after consulting a specialist.

When compiling the diet of men, women and children, one should take into account the norm daily consumption mineral:

Age	Daily intake of calcium, mg
Children under 6 months	200
Children from 6 months to 1 year	400
Children 1 – 4 years old	600
Children 4 – 11 years old	1000
Children 11 – 17 years old	1200
Men and women 17 - 50 years old	1000
Men 50 -70 years old	1200
Women 50 - 70 years old	1400
After 70 years	1300
Pregnancy and lactation	1500

Symptoms and Causes of High Calcium Levels

If a person's blood contains an amount of Ca that goes beyond upper bound norms (in the clinic - more than 3 mmol / l), indicate the presence of hypercalcemia. High calcium in adults can cause many pathological conditions.

A lot of Ca in the blood may be due to:

An excess of parathyroid hormone, which constantly pumps out the mineral from the bone tissue, increasing its volume in the bloodstream;
Malignant formations of the kidneys;
Bone metastases that destroy tissue;
Oncological diseases of the blood;
Hypervitaminosis D;
thyrotoxicosis;
Abuse of thiazide diuretics;
dehydration.

To lower the level of a mineral in the blood, you need to know what is the cause of this pathology in your situation. Only a specialist can accurately determine it, taking into account the inspection data and additional methods examinations.

Calcium analysis provides information only about the level of the mineral in the blood. To determine the reasons for its decrease or increase, you need to pass additional tests. Most often, parameters of parathyroid hormone are determined.

The decrease in the amount of Ca can be carried out using the following measures:

drink a lot pure water to ensure the normal functioning of the kidneys, which must remove the excess macronutrient from the body;
Taking drugs to slow down the destruction of bone tissue (only as prescribed by a doctor);
With inefficiency drug therapy hemodialysis is prescribed;
In some diseases that increase calcium levels, glucocorticosteroids are used.

Determining the tactics of treatment for this pathology should be entrusted to a specialist. Acceptance of any means that lowers the amount of Ca is carried out only after a doctor's prescription. It is difficult to make the level of calcium lower on your own; in order to avoid serious complications, you should not delay contacting a doctor.

When should I donate blood for a calcium test?

Biochemical analysis to determine the amount of Ca in the bloodstream is prescribed in the following situations:

Suspicion of oncological pathology;
Albumin deficiency;
Peptic ulcer of the stomach and intestines;
Heart problems;
Decreased muscle tone;
Kidney diseases (acute and chronic);
bone pain;
Detection of osteoporosis during X-ray diagnostics.

Malignant neoplasms are a source of substances whose action is similar to the effect of parathyroid hormone. They destroy bone tissue, increasing the level of Ca in the blood.

It is worth recalling that the analysis itself does not show the cause of the pathology. Reduced or increased amount calcium is an indication for the appointment of additional diagnostic methods.

You can contact the clinic for blood donation if you have the following symptoms:

How to donate blood for calcium?

To get an accurate result in a biochemical analysis for Ca, follow these recommendations:

Donate blood in the morning. It is better to do this on an empty stomach, you can drink water.
The day before the analysis, give up fried, smoked foods and alcoholic beverages.
Avoid excessive physical activity such as exercising on the day before donating blood.

In women during pregnancy and lactation, there is a change in blood Ca levels (usually a decrease). This should be taken into account when submitting an analysis.

1-2 weeks before blood donation, the following drugs should be abandoned:

Antacids;
Vitamin D;
Tamoxifen;
Hormonal preparations;
Gentamycin;
Anticonvulsants;
corticosteroids;
Laxatives.

The following factors may also affect the result of the analysis:

Dehydration. Leads to an increase in the level of the mineral.
Hemodilution(increase in plasma due to excess water) leads to falsely low results.
Hyperalbuminemia. An excess of proteins leads to the binding of more calcium, which will be seen in the results of the analysis.

Calcium is the most important macronutrient that forms the basis of the musculoskeletal system of our body and performs a number of other vital functions. important functions. By maintaining its level within the normal range, you will be able to provide normal work all body systems. Timely passing the analysis for the content of Ca in the blood, you can prevent the development of life-threatening complications.

Probably, each of us mothers from early childhood forced to eat cottage cheese and drink milk, "so that the teeth are strong." In fact, dairy products are high in calcium (Ca), a healthy macronutrient needed for bone growth and strength. Reduced levels of this electrolyte negatively affect not only dental health, but also general condition organism, nervous system, hairline, nails, and also leads to such serious pathologies like scoliosis, flat feet, tetany (attacks of convulsions). Fear of such complications often prompts people to consume excessive amounts of foods or preparations containing this element, which can cause an excess of calcium in the body. And this condition is no less dangerous for a person than Ca deficiency.

Why is there an excessive deposition of calcium in the body

Many women, especially those who have given birth to several children, believe that they are at risk of hypocalcemia (lack of calcium) due to the fact that they "gave their reserves to the baby." Meanwhile, it is in women and the elderly that an excess of calcium is more common. What are the causes of an excess of calcium deposits in the body?

Only a doctor can diagnose hypercalcemia based on the results of a biochemical blood test. The most common causes of elevated calcium levels in the blood are:

the development of malignant tumors;
vitamin D drug intoxications (such as side effect when using Ergocalciferol);
hereditary diseases;
hormonal disorders.

Vitamin D is involved in the absorption of the macronutrient, and regulates this process by a number of hormones produced mainly by parathyroid glands. That's why when you overdose on vitamin D and imbalance your hormones, calcium absorption fails, which can lead to calcium deficiency or excess.

An overdose of calcium can also occur with uncontrolled intake of calcium gluconate, some drugs for gastrointestinal tract, as well as against the background of radiation therapy and rehabilitation period after irradiation.

How does hypercalcemia manifest?

Can a person somehow feel an excess of calcium in the body? Yes, some non-specific symptoms may indicate an excess of calcium in the body. These symptoms are called nonspecific because they are characteristic not only of hypercalcemia, but also of many other diseases.

One of the first signs indicating an excess of calcium in the blood is constipation, accompanied by pain and cramps in the abdomen, flatulence, bloating, and sometimes leading to peptic ulcer. Excess calcium in the blood can be manifested by the following conditions:

dizziness;
increased fatigue;
digestive problems;
nausea, vomiting;
lack of appetite;
dry mouth;
depressive state;
disorientation and confusion;
violation of cardiac activity;
kidney failure;
causeless weight loss;
frequent convulsions.

In addition, symptoms of excess calcium in the blood and the body can be periodic heart attacks (due to the deposition of its salts on the walls of blood vessels) and the development of urolithiasis.

According to some medical research, a daily overdose of this element, exceeding 600 mg, can lead to cancer prostate.

All this indicates the need to remove excess calcium from the body.

How to reduce elevated Ca levels in the blood

The level of macroelements in the blood should be reduced with great care, constantly monitoring their content with the help of laboratory tests.

Only a doctor can determine how to remove excess calcium from the body without causing any harm to the patient.

Therefore, any decision to prescribe drugs or recommend foods that remove excess calcium from the body should be made by a doctor.

What foods remove Ca

Foods not recommended for reduced level calcium, cannot be considered as those that can unconditionally be used to reduce the level of this trace element. Some of them, lowering the level of one element, can cause significant damage to most internal organs and systems. This can be said about table salt, alcohol, carbonated drinks and coffee. Excessive consumption of these products has been and remains harmful and dangerous to health. But there are other foods that can remove calcium from the body without special harm for good health:

green tea, thanks to the tea caffeine contained in it;
foods high in vitamin A, which promotes Ca leaching;
porridge from oatmeal;
distilled water.

It is very important to abuse the above products, especially distilled water, even in order to lower high level no calcium!

Drink a large number of purified water to remove excess calcium is necessary, but distilled water must eventually be replaced with boiled or plain filtered water.

What drugs promote the excretion of calcium

Serious calcium overdoses require drug treatment, and in these cases, diuretic (diuretic) drugs, such as Furosemide, are most often prescribed, which provide rapid elimination macronutrient in the urine, as well as calcium antagonists with a high content of magnesium (for example, Veropamil). In addition, if necessary, symptomatic therapy can be prescribed:

glucocorticosteroids;
bisphosphonates;
calcitonin.

Of course, taking all calcium-containing drugs at this time should be canceled.

What are the consequences of an excess of Ca

Fortunately, Ca is not so toxic that an overdose of it could be fatal. In any case, medicine does not have data on the lethal dose of this macronutrient. However, an excess of Ca can lead to serious consequences requiring long-term treatment, and sometimes surgery (for example, in severe cases of calcification of the aortic valve).

The most commonly observed consequences of hypercalcemia include:

arterial hypertension - increased arterial pressure caused by the deposition of calcium salts on the walls of blood vessels;
gout - a disease of tissues and joints caused by a violation of metabolism and salt balance and characterized by the accumulation and difficulty in excretion of uric acid by the kidneys;
calcification - deposits of calcium salts in organs or soft tissues accompanied by characteristic painful formations on different areas body;
hyperparathyroidism is a disease endocrine system caused by an excess of parathyroid hormones due to impaired salt metabolism.

In addition, hypercalcemia inhibits the excitability of nerve fibers and skeletal muscle, smooth muscle tone decreases, useful microelements such as magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, iron are washed out of the body, blood thickens, kidney stones form, bradycardia and angina pectoris develop, gastric acidity increases, which can cause hyperacid gastritis and peptic ulcer.

Given the vagueness of the symptoms of hypercalcemia, one should not hope that independent measures to remove excess calcium will quickly give a noticeable result. For example, hypercalcemia provoked by an overdose of vitamin D can be observed in the blood even several months after the withdrawal of a vitamin-containing preparation. Therefore, when carrying out measures to reduce Ca, you should regularly donate blood for biochemical analysis, monitor the level of its Ca content in it, and be observed by a doctor. This will most effectively restore the salt balance and overall well-being.