There is a saying: "You can buy a medicine, but no amount of money can buy he alth." We are ready to do a lot to have it. Therefore, in recent years, preventive rather than curative medicine has come to the fore. In order to prevent the disease in time, it is necessary to periodically do tests, monitor the indicators of microelements in the body, and also contact a specialist in case of the slightest deviation.
The importance of calcium in our body
Calcium plays a significant biological role in the body, so it is important to know what is the rate of calcium in the blood. Its main tasks are aimed at:
- iron exchange;
- maintaining a normal heart rate and the entire cardiovascular system;
- blood clotting, where good permeability in cell membranes is activated;
- regulation of enzymatic activity;
- normalization of some of the endocrine glands;
- dental he alth;
- bone strength;
- rhythmic muscle contraction;
- normalization of workcentral nervous system;
- getting rid of insomnia.
The rate of calcium in the blood helps a person feel active, cheerful and calm. After all, he takes part in many systems and organs.
What chemical processes in the body involve this element?
Calcium is a very common and vital element for humans. They are especially attentive to its content in the children's body, because the rate of calcium in the blood of babies determines their development. The bulk of calcium is found in the bones, being a framework for our skeleton and strengthening it, it is also the basis for the growth and development of teeth, it is part of the nails and hairline. The high content of this trace element in the bones is due to the fact that they serve as a reservoir for us.
Calcium is indispensable, it is found in almost every cell of the human body. A particularly large amount of it is found in the cells of nerves, muscles and the heart. The trace element is necessary for the transmission of nerve impulses, and therefore it is found everywhere where neurons function. These organs include the brain, as well as nerve cells with endings (axons and dendrites). Muscles also use calcium to normalize their work.
Calcium is found in high concentration in the blood, it is through it that it enters the muscles, bones, or vice versa out of the bones. Thus, it ensures the normal functioning of organs and the body as a whole. The rate of calcium in the blood is 2.50 mmol/lin an adult.
What conditions indicate problems with calcium in the body?
With a low and high level of this element in the blood, a number of symptoms are observed that manifest themselves in different ways.
With hypocalcemia (insufficient amount of calcium in a person), some pathological processes may occur, which are the body's call for examination and treatment.
Mental symptoms accompanied by:
- headaches that often migraine-like;
- dizzy.
Skin and bone hypocalcemia may manifest:
- for dry skin followed by cracking;
- with caries in the teeth;
- with damage to the nail plate;
- with abundant hair loss;
- for osteoporosis (impaired bone density).
Disturbance of the neuromuscular system is characterized by:
- sharp weakness;
- tetanic convulsions after excessively heightened reflexes.
Disorder of the cardiovascular system entails:
- prolonged blood clotting;
- increased heart rate;
- coronary heart disease.
The conditions for hypercalcemia are somewhat different from the previous ones, this allows the doctor to understand that the patient's calcium is above normal in the blood.
Disturbance of the central nervous system and muscles is characterized by:
- headache;
- loss of orientation in space;
- vomit,nausea;
- general weakness of the body;
- sharp fatigue;
- increasing the intensity and number of reflex actions;
- in some cases immobility.
Disorder of the cardiovascular system entails:
- deposition of calcium on the walls of blood vessels;
- more frequent and untimely work of the heart;
- lack of functions of this body.
It is also very common to experience a lack of urination and, as a result, kidney failure.
Which hormones regulate calcium production?
The production of any trace elements in the human body is regulated by special substances called hormones. The content of calcium in the blood (the norm of which is within 2.50 mmol / l) is also under their control.
Calcitonin contributes to the regulation of calcium metabolism. It is produced by the thyroid gland and is one of the main informants that determine the presence of malignant neoplasms in the body.
Osteocalcin, it appears through the formation of bone tissue by special cell structures.
Paratinin produces calcium interchange. It is secreted from the cells of the parathyroid gland.
Cortisol is the most active glucocorticoid hormone. It is produced by the adrenal cortex, it takes control of the production of other hormones and absolutely all processes in the body associated with synthesis.
Aldosterone. It carries out water-s alt metabolism: retains sodium s alts, and removes potassium s alts from the body.
Somatotropic hormone is responsible for growth. It regulates mainly the growth of bone tissue, as well as organs and muscles.
The function of the adrenogenital hormone of the adrenal cortex is aimed at maintaining the condition of the genital organs and the development of distinctive features.
Corticotropin is produced from the anterior pituitary gland. It activates the production of cortisol, regulates the production of hormones and normalizes metabolism.
Analysis to determine the amount of this element in the blood
Muscle cramps, nervousness, prolonged insomnia, as well as diseases such as cachexia, liver failure, spinal tuberculosis are direct indications for this calcium test. This effective examination method allows doctors to determine the amount of calcium and its content in the blood. Calcium in a blood test, the norm of which is always written as a result, is determined with accuracy only if the rules for preparing for the study are observed. It is carried out in the morning (do not take food for 8-12 hours), physical activity for this period is excluded, alcohol is not consumed. If it is not possible to take an analysis in the morning, then blood is taken after a 6-hour fast, while fats are excluded from the morning meal. Dairy products, cabbage and nuts are strictly prohibited as they are the main source of calcium.
The rate of calcium in the blood of an adult and a child
In an adult, this element takes only 1% ofthe total amount of calcium in all organs, tissues and systems. Therefore, the level of calcium in the blood (its norm) is a small range, only 2.15 - 2.50 mmol / l. Deviations from these values are already seriously affecting our body.
Adult test scores differ from child test scores. The analysis for the content of calcium in the blood is no exception. The norm in newborn babies is 1.75 mmol / l, in children of the first month 2.2-2.5 mmol / l. In adolescents under 14 years of age, the content of this element is 2.3-2.87 mmol / l.
The difference between total and ionized calcium
Total calcium is localized mainly in bone tissue. It actively interacts with blood serum ions. The main task of total calcium is to eliminate its fluctuations in serum.
Ionized calcium is not associated with proteins in any way, so it is also called free. Although it is found in smaller quantities in the human body, it performs very important functions. Metabolism, secretory function, cell growth, muscle contraction and much more are regulated by ionized calcium in the blood. The norm of this element is as important as the general one.
The total calcium content in bones is approximately 99%. Contains ionized calcium in the blood (the norm of which is 1%) only in the blood serum.
Hypocalcemia, causes
If the content of calcium in the blood (the norm of which is noted above) is significantly lower than expected, you need to find out the reasons for this condition. Among themthe following are common.
- Insufficient vitamin D content in the body.
- Minimal intake of calcium from food.
- Pathological processes in which malabsorption occurs. These include bowel resection, pancreatic insufficiency, and frequent diarrhea.
- Rickets.
- Oncological diseases.
- Chronic sepsis.
- Low mobility (lack of exercise).
- Allergic reactions.
- Liver dysfunction caused by toxin damage (poisoning after drinking alcohol or exposure to heavy metal products).
- Taking medications (interleukins or corticosteroids).
- High estrogen levels.
If such conditions occur in a person's life, then an analysis can be done to determine the total calcium in the blood. The norm will indicate that organs and systems are not affected by the pathological process.
How can I increase the content of this trace element in the body?
In order to have the norm of calcium in human blood, it is necessary to carry out some actions. First, you need to contact a specialist, since you yourself will not be able to determine the reasons for such a deviation. Secondly, if there are no serious reasons for low calcium (complex diseases or cancerous tumors), its level can be corrected by nutrition.
The main products containing calcium are hard cheese, cottage cheese, sesame and its oil, eggs, milk, dairy products, herbs, nuts. On average, a person shouldconsume 800 to 1200 mg of calcium per day.
Hypercalcemia, why does it occur?
If hypocalcemia is easier to treat, and a person recovers faster, then a condition in which calcium is much higher than normal cannot always be corrected. This is because the causes of high calcium are serious diseases, such as:
- heart failure;
- leukemia;
- pneumonia;
- Addison's disease;
- peritonitis;
- pneumonia;
- hepatitis;
- cancer;
- hyperthyroidism.
What should I do to keep my calcium levels low?
One of the effective ways is to drink soft water. It should be drunk for no more than 2 months, since other important elements can come out along with calcium. Light therapy is also used by injecting saline into the human body. But with all this, it is important to determine the causes of elevated calcium levels in order not to miss a serious illness.
