Hypercalcemia in medicine is called an excess amount of calcium in human blood. Deviations can be considered values exceeding 2.5 mmol/L.
How does the disease appear?
First, let's figure out why such a disorder as hypercalcemia occurs at all. The reasons can be very different, and now we will look at some of them:
1. Disorders of the endocrine system. The most common situation is violations of the parathyroid glands, when they produce an excessive amount of hormones. Excess calcium is also characteristic of other hormonal disorders: hyperthyroidism, acromegaly, etc.
2. Bone diseases. Often with the destruction of bone tissue, hypercalcemia occurs. Symptoms of this disorder are pronounced in patients with osteoporosis, patients with certain hereditary pathologies and Paget's disease. Loss of calcium by bone tissue also occurs in the event of a prolonged impairment of a person's mobility (for example, in case of injuries or paralysis).
3. malignant formations. A number of neoplasms (for example, in the lungs, kidneys, ovaries) are capable of producing a hormone similar to thatwhich is produced by the parathyroid glands. Its excess leads to problems with calcium metabolism. Paraneoplastic syndrome develops, which almost always accompanies hypercalcemia. Symptoms can also appear for another reason: there are types of malignant tumors that metastasize to the bones, and thereby provoke the release of large amounts of calcium into the blood.
4. Certain medications can also cause this condition. Of particular danger are the means taken for heartburn or other disorders of the stomach. An excess of vitamin D can also cause a problem, which increases the absorption of calcium in the gastrointestinal tract.
Main symptoms
Now it's time to talk about how hypercalcemia manifests itself. Its symptoms can be noticed far from immediately, and in some cases the disease proceeds without any signs at all.
So what are the most common symptoms?
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signs of hypercalcemia general weakness;
- nausea leading to vomiting;
- high blood pressure;
- severe muscle and abdominal pain;
- loss of appetite;
- fatigue;
- emotional instability;
- frequent urge to urinate;
- thirst.
What will happen if these signs are not noticed in time? Hypercalcemia progressesand in the most severe cases, disturbances of the heart rhythm and brain functions occur, confusion of consciousness, up to delirium, is observed. The patient may go into a coma. Chronic excess calcium leads to kidney stones.
How is hypercalcemia treated?
If the patient is taking vitamin D, it should be discontinued immediately. In rare cases, surgery is required: removal of one or more parathyroid glands, kidney transplantation.
The attending physician prescribes drugs that help remove calcium from the bones. It is often necessary to prescribe a diuretic (for example, Furosemide) to help the kidneys clear excess calcium more quickly.
In cases where all other measures fail, dialysis is performed.
It is important to know what causes hypercalcemia. Symptoms that appeared due to some other disease may recede for a while, but if the root cause is not eliminated, over time the problem will again make itself felt.
