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McKesson Clinical Reference Systems: Women's Health Advisor 2002.2
Hypocalcemia
What is hypocalcemia?
Hypocalcemia means that the level of calcium in the blood is
lower than normal.
How does it occur?
Some possible causes of hypocalcemia are:
- You are not getting enough calcium or vitamin D from your
diet. (Vitamin D helps your body take calcium from the
food you eat and use it to build bone.)
- Your intestines are not absorbing calcium.
- Your parathyroid gland is not making enough parathyroid
hormone, which affects calcium levels in the blood.
- You have kidney disease or your pancreas is inflamed.
- You have low magnesium levels. A lack of magnesium can
be caused by alcoholism or other diseases that affect how
your body absorbs nutrients.
- You are taking a medicine that affects the level of
calcium in your blood. For example, cimetidine, a drug
that makes your stomach produce less acid, reduces the
amount of calcium in your blood. Some diuretics can also
lower the amount of calcium and magnesium in your blood.
- You have too much phosphate in your blood. Many cola
drinks contain a high amount of phosphate. Drinking too
much of these drinks can result in high phosphate and low
calcium in the blood.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of severe hypocalcemia include:
- numbness or tingling around the mouth or in the feet and
hands
- muscle spasms in the face, feet, and hands
- depression
- memory loss
- hallucinations.
How is it diagnosed?
Your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and
examine you. You will have blood tests to confirm the
diagnosis. Your parathyroid gland and kidneys will also be
checked.
How is it treated?
Your treatment will depend on the cause. You will usually
take an oral calcium supplement. Severe hypocalcemia is
usually treated with injections of calcium gluconate. You
may have injections of vitamin D or take vitamin D
supplements. If you have low magnesium levels, your
magnesium deficiency must be corrected to treat the
hypocalcemia.
How long do the effects last?
Most people recover completely, especially if the problem is
diagnosed early enough. Severe hypocalcemia can be life
threatening.
How can I help prevent hypocalcemia?
Make sure that you get enough calcium and vitamin D each
day, either in foods or as supplements.
Hypocalcemia that is caused by problems with the parathyroid
gland or the kidneys cannot be prevented.
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