Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Hypercalcemia, an elevated calcium level in the blood, is a serious situation. It can cause vague effects, such as a loss of appetite and fatigue. But if severe or acute, hypercalcemia can affect your muscles and heart rate. High blood calcium is not common, but it can develop due to illnesses like ocancer.
Your calcium level can be measured with asimple blood test, and excess calcium can be managed with procedures that lower calcium levels.
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Hypercalcemia Symptoms
Many of the symptoms of hypercalcemia are ones that are characteristic of other conditions. Sudden elevations in calcium levels are generally more dangerous than chronic hypercalcemia. Additionally, mildly elevated calcium produces different effects than severely elevated calcium.
Acute hypercalcemiacan cause:
Mild CasesNauseaVomitingLoss of appetiteAbdominal painConstipationFatigueSevere CasesIncreased thirstDehydrationDecreased urinationMuscle cramping, twitching, or weaknessIrregular heart rate
Mild CasesNauseaVomitingLoss of appetiteAbdominal painConstipationFatigue
Nausea
Vomiting
Loss of appetite
Abdominal pain
Constipation
Fatigue
Severe CasesIncreased thirstDehydrationDecreased urinationMuscle cramping, twitching, or weaknessIrregular heart rate
Increased thirst
Dehydration
Decreased urination
Muscle cramping, twitching, or weakness
Irregular heart rate
Symptoms ofchronic hypercalcemia(usually mild) include:
It’s especially important for those with kidney disease or cancer to be familiar with the symptoms of hypercalcemia. However, know that symptoms can be hard to recognize and the condition can strike without warning.
Complications
Severe hypercalcemia is a major risk to your health. The effects on your heart and nervous system can cause confusion, hallucinations, behavioral changes, and even coma or death.
These issues are rare because the body is generally pretty good at rapidly adjusting variations in calcium concentration. But if you have an issue like cancer, your body might not be able to correct the problem.
There are several causes of high calcium, and the most common ones relate to bone breakdown, cancers, and thyroid concerns.
Causes of hypercalcemia include:
Can Eating Too Much Dairy Cause Hypercalcemia?No—not if you are healthy, that is. Your thyroid gland makes a hormone, calcitonin, that keeps your blood calcium level from getting too high.
Can Eating Too Much Dairy Cause Hypercalcemia?
No—not if you are healthy, that is. Your thyroid gland makes a hormone, calcitonin, that keeps your blood calcium level from getting too high.
Generally, hypercalcemia is detected based on a blood test. If you have hypercalcemia, there is certainly a medical cause for it. Your medical team may order some other tests to help identify what that is.
Blood and Urine Tests
You can expect that some if not all of these tests will be run as part of the diagnostic process:
Imaging Tests
Imaging may be required when select diagnoses are suspected. This may include:
Biopsy
Abone marrow biopsyor lymph node biopsy can help your medical team with the diagnosis of lymphoma or leukemia.
Even if you are diagnosed with hypercalcemia and don’t have signs of heart irregularities, you will probably need anelectrocardiogram (EKG)so your healthcare provider can monitor your heart rhythmbeforeyou develop any problems. You may also need to have your levels monitored on a regular basis to prevent the unwanted and dangerous effects of the condition.
The treatment of hypercalcemia varies depending upon how elevated your calcium is, as well as the cause. Medical approaches used to decrease one’s blood calcium level include medications and interventions.
Management of the primary problem that caused hypercalcemia is an important part of your treatment as well.
Strategies for treating hypercalcemia include:
Medications used to treat hypercalcemia include:
A Word From Verywell
Hypercalcemia is rare because the body generally does a good job of maintaining control of calcium concentration. However, illnesses can make it difficult for your body to keep up with excess amounts of the mineral.
If you are prone to hypercalcemia, it is a good idea to meet with a dietitian, stay hydrated, and have your calcium level checked regularly.
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Feldenzer KL, Sarno J.Hypercalcemia of Malignancy.J Adv Pract Oncol. 2018 Jul-Aug;9(5):496-504. Epub 2018 Jul 1.Merck Manuals.Hypercalcemia.Additional ReadingTurner JJO.Hypercalcaemia - presentation and management.Clin Med (Lond). 2017 Jun;17(3):270-273. doi:10.7861/clinmedicine.17-3-270.
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Feldenzer KL, Sarno J.Hypercalcemia of Malignancy.J Adv Pract Oncol. 2018 Jul-Aug;9(5):496-504. Epub 2018 Jul 1.Merck Manuals.Hypercalcemia.Additional ReadingTurner JJO.Hypercalcaemia - presentation and management.Clin Med (Lond). 2017 Jun;17(3):270-273. doi:10.7861/clinmedicine.17-3-270.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Feldenzer KL, Sarno J.Hypercalcemia of Malignancy.J Adv Pract Oncol. 2018 Jul-Aug;9(5):496-504. Epub 2018 Jul 1.Merck Manuals.Hypercalcemia.
Feldenzer KL, Sarno J.Hypercalcemia of Malignancy.J Adv Pract Oncol. 2018 Jul-Aug;9(5):496-504. Epub 2018 Jul 1.
Merck Manuals.Hypercalcemia.
Turner JJO.Hypercalcaemia - presentation and management.Clin Med (Lond). 2017 Jun;17(3):270-273. doi:10.7861/clinmedicine.17-3-270.
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