Hypercalcemia -Symptoms and Causes
Overview
Hypercalcemia occurs when blood calcium levels rise too high. This condition can lead to weakened bones, kidney stones, and potential heart and brain complications.
The most common cause is overactive parathyroid glands, which are four small glands located in the neck near the thyroid gland. Other causes include cancer, certain medical conditions, medications, and excessive intake of calcium and vitamin D supplements.
Symptoms of hypercalcemia vary widely among patients. Some people experience no symptoms at all, while others may have mild to severe manifestations.
Parathyroid Glands and Their Function
The parathyroid glands play a crucial role in regulating calcium in the body. These four tiny glands are responsible for maintaining proper calcium balance in the bloodstream.
In most cases of hyperparathyroidism, only one gland develops a tumor and begins producing excess hormone.
Diagnosis Methods
Doctors use several imaging techniques to locate abnormal parathyroid glands:
- Ultrasound
- Parathyroid sestamibi scan (nuclear medicine imaging)
- Four-dimensional CT scan (advanced imaging of neck and parathyroid glands)
- Choline PET scan (cutting-edge technology)
Choline PET scanning represents one of the newest diagnostic tools available for identifying parathyroid issues. This specialized technique can detect parathyroid glands that might be missed by other imaging methods.
However, it requires on-site generation of a choline isotope and is only available at select medical centers.
Impact on Patient Quality of Life
Patients with hypercalcemia often experience vague but debilitating symptoms. When properly diagnosed and treated, many of these symptoms can resolve completely.
The condition affects people differently, but proper treatment can make a significant difference in quality of life.
Treatment Approach
After thorough diagnosis and imaging, patients can move forward confidently with treatment. The goal is to create an efficient and effective treatment plan tailored to each patient’s specific needs.
Signs of High Blood Calcium
People with mild high blood calcium may not notice any problems. When calcium levels rise more significantly, symptoms can affect different parts of the body.
Kidney Effects:
- Intense thirst
- Urinating often
Digestive Problems:
- Upset stomach
- Belly pain
- Throwing up
- Constipation
Bone and Muscle Issues:
- Weakened bones (calcium leaves bones and enters blood)
- Bone pain
- Muscle weakness
Brain Changes:
- Trouble concentrating
- Confusion
- Feeling very tired
- Depression
Heart Problems (Rare):
- Feeling like your heart is racing or pounding
- Irregular heartbeat
- Can worsen other heart conditions
When to Get Medical Help
Contact your healthcare provider if you notice symptoms that might indicate high blood calcium. Pay special attention to extreme thirst, needing to urinate frequently, or stomach pain.
These signs shouldn’t be ignored, as they may point to a condition requiring treatment.
What Causes High Blood Calcium Levels
Hypercalcemia (high blood calcium) develops when the normal calcium balance in the body is disrupted. Several factors can lead to this condition.
The most common cause is overactive parathyroid glands, known as hyperparathyroidism. When these small glands become enlarged or develop non-cancerous tumors, they produce too much parathyroid hormone. This excess hormone tells the body to release more calcium into the bloodstream.
Cancer can also cause hypercalcemia. Types like lung cancer, breast cancer, and certain blood cancers may increase calcium levels. Cancer that has spread to the bones is especially likely to cause this problem.
Several diseases affect calcium balance as well. Conditions like tuberculosis and sarcoidosis can raise vitamin D levels, which makes the digestive system absorb more calcium than needed.
Other causes include:
- Genetic Factors: A rare inherited condition called familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia raises blood calcium without causing symptoms.
- Immobility: Being bedridden or unable to move for long periods causes bones to release calcium.
- Dehydration: Having less fluid in the bloodstream concentrates the calcium present.
- Medications: Some drugs like lithium and thiazide diuretics can trigger excess parathyroid hormone.
- Supplement Overuse: Taking too many calcium or vitamin D supplements over time.
Physical activity helps bones retain calcium properly. When someone can’t move much, their bones don’t bear weight and start releasing stored calcium into the blood.
Dehydration is a common cause of temporary hypercalcemia because less fluid in the blood means calcium becomes more concentrated.
Some medications affect calcium regulation by either directly increasing calcium levels or by causing the parathyroid glands to release more hormones than needed.
Complications
High calcium levels in the blood can damage various body systems over time. These complications are important to understand.
Bone Problems
- Weakening bones (osteoporosis)
- Higher risk of fractures
- Spine curvature
- Height loss
Kidney Issues
- Formation of painful kidney stones
- Potential kidney failure
- Reduced ability to filter blood
- Buildup of waste products
Brain and Nervous System Effects
High calcium levels can seriously impact brain function, leading to:
- Confusion
- Memory problems
- In severe cases, coma
Heart Rhythm Disturbances
The electrical system that controls heartbeat can be disrupted, causing:
- Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
- Potential heart rhythm problems
Without proper treatment, these complications may worsen over time.
