Hypercalcemia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

What is hypercalcemia?

Hypercalcemia is a condition in which you have too high a concentration of calcium in your blood. Calcium is essential for the normal function of organs, cells, muscles, and nerves. It’s also important in blood clotting and bone health.

However, too much of it can cause problems. Hypercalcemia makes it hard for the body to carry out its normal functions. Extremely high levels of calcium can be life-threatening.

You might not have any noticeable symptoms if you have mild hypercalcemia. If you have a more serious case, you will typically have signs and symptoms that affect various parts of your body.

General

• headaches
• fatigue

Kidneys

Symptoms related to the kidneys include:

• excessive thirst
• excessive urination
• pain between your back and upper abdomen on one side due to kidney stones

Abdomen

Symptoms related to the abdomen include:

• nausea
• abdominal pain
• decreased appetite
• constipation
• vomiting

Heart

High calcium can affect the electrical system of the heart, causing abnormal heart rhythms.

Muscles

Calcium levels can affect your muscles, causing twitches, cramps, and weakness.

Skeletal system

High calcium levels can affect bones, leading to:

• bone pain
• osteoporosis
• fractures from disease

Neurological symptoms

Hypercalcemia can also cause neurological symptoms, such as depression, memory loss, and irritability. Severe cases can cause confusion and coma.

If you have cancer and experience any symptoms of hypercalcemia, call your doctor immediately. It’s not uncommon for cancer to cause elevated calcium levels. When this occurs it’s a medical emergency.

Your body uses the interaction between calcium, vitamin D, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) to regulate calcium levels.

PTH helps the body control how much calcium comes into the blood stream from the intestines, kidneys, and bones. Normally, PTH increases when the calcium level in your blood falls and decreases when your calcium level rises.

Your body can also make calcitonin from the thyroid gland when your calcium level gets too high. When you have hypercalcemia, there is excess calcium in your blood stream and your body can’t regulate your calcium level normally.

There are several possible causes of this condition:

Hyperparathyroidism

The parathyroid glands are four small glands located behind the thyroid gland in the neck. They control the production of the parathyroid hormone, which in turn regulates calcium in the blood.

Hyperparathyroidism occurs when one or more of your parathyroid glands becomes overly active and releases too much PTH. This creates a calcium imbalance that the body cannot correct on its own. This is the leading cause of hypercalcemia, especially in women over 50 years old.

Lung diseases and cancers

Granulomatous diseases, such as tuberculosis and sarcoidosis, are lung diseases that can cause your vitamin D levels to rise. This causes more calcium absorption, which increases the calcium level in your blood.

Some cancers, especially lung cancer, breast cancer, and blood cancers, can raise your risk for hypercalcemia.

Medication side effects

Some medications, particularly diuretics, can produce hypercalcemia. They do this by causing severe fluid diuresis, which is a loss of body water, and an underexcretion of calcium. This leads to an excess concentration of calcium in the blood.

Other drugs, such as lithium, cause more PTH to be released.

Dietary supplements and over-the-counter medications

Taking too much vitamin D or calcium in the form of supplements can raise your calcium level. Excessive use of calcium carbonate, found in common antacids like Tums and Rolaids, can also lead to high calcium levels.

High doses of these over-the-counter products are the third most common cause of hypercalcemia in the United States.

Dehydration

This usually leads to mild cases of hypercalcemia. Dehydration causes your calcium level to rise due to the low amount of fluid you have in your blood. However, the severity greatly depends on your kidney function.

In people with chronic kidney disease, the effects of dehydration are greater.

Your doctor can use blood tests to check the calcium level in your blood. Urine tests that measure calcium, protein, and other substances can also be helpful.

If your doctor finds a high calcium level, they’ll order more tests to find out the cause of your condition. Blood and urine tests can help your doctor diagnose hyperparathyroidism and other conditions.

Tests that can allow your doctor to check for evidence of cancer or other diseases that can cause hypercalcemia include:

• chest X-rays, which can reveal lung cancer
• mammograms, which help diagnose breast cancer
• CT scans, which form a more detailed image of your body
• MRI scans, which produce detailed images of your body’s organs and other structures
• DEXA bone mineral density tests, which evaluate bone strength

Treatment options for hypercalcemia depend on the severity of the condition and the underlying cause.

Mild cases

You may not need immediate treatment if you have a mild case of hypercalcemia, depending on the cause. However, you will need to monitor its progress. Finding the underlying cause is important.

The effect that elevated calcium levels have on your body relate not just to the level of calcium present, but how quickly it rises. Therefore, it’s important to stick to your doctor’s recommendations for follow-up.

Even mildly elevated levels of calcium can lead to kidney stones and kidney damage over time.

Moderate to severe cases

You will likely need hospital treatment if you have a moderate to severe case. The goal of treatment is to return your calcium level to normal. Treatment also aims to prevent damage to your bones and kidneys. Common treatment options include the following:

• Calcitonin is a hormone produced in the thyroid gland. It slows down bone loss.
• Intravenous fluids hydrate you and lower calcium levels in the blood.
• Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory medications. They’re useful in the treatment of too much vitamin D.
• Loop diuretic medications can help your kidneys move fluid and get rid of extra calcium, especially if you have heart failure.
• Intravenous bisphosphonates lower blood calcium levels by regulating bone calcium.
• Dialysis can be performed to rid your blood of extra calcium and waste when you have damaged kidneys. This is usually done if other treatment methods aren’t working.

Primary hyperparathyroidism

Depending on your age, kidney function, and bone effects, you might need surgery to remove the abnormal parathyroid glands. This procedure cures most cases of hypercalcemia caused by hyperparathyroidism.

If surgery isn’t an option for you, your doctor may recommend a medication called cinacalcet (Sensipar). This lowers your calcium level by decreasing PTH production. If you have osteoporosis, your doctor might have you take bisphosphonates to lower your risk of fractures.

Cancer

If you have cancer, your doctor will discuss treatment options with you to help you determine the best ways to treat hypercalcemia.

You might be able to get relief from symptoms through intravenous fluids and medications like bisphosphonates. This might make it easier for you to deal with your cancer treatments.

The medication cinacalcet can also be used to treat high calcium levels due to parathyroid cancer. Research suggests it may also have a role in the treatment of hypercalcemia due to other cancers as well.

Hypercalcemia can cause kidney problems, such as kidney stones and kidney failure. Other complications include irregular heartbeats and osteoporosis.

Hypercalcemia can also cause confusion or dementia since calcium helps keep your nervous system functioning properly. Serious cases can lead to a potentially life-threatening coma.

Your long-term outlook will depend on the cause and how severe your condition is. Your doctor can determine the best treatment for you.

Talk to your doctor regularly to stay informed and ask questions. Be sure to keep up with any recommended follow-up tests and appointments.

You can do your part to help protect your kidneys and bones from damage due to hypercalcemia by making healthy lifestyle choices. Make sure you drink plenty of water. This will keep you hydrated, keep blood levels of calcium down, and decrease your risk of developing kidney stones.

Since smoking can speed up bone loss, it’s important to quit as soon as possible. Smoking also causes many other health issues. Quitting smoking can only help your health.

A combination of physical exercises and strength training can keep your bones strong and healthy. Talk to your doctor first to find out what types of exercises are safe for you. This is especially important if you have cancer that affects your bones.

Make sure to follow guidelines for the doses of over-the-counter supplements and medications to decrease the risk of excessive vitamin D and calcium intake.

Q:

What precautions should I take if I think I may be at risk for hypercalcemia?

Anonymous patient

A:

There are several proactive steps you can take. You should stay adequately hydrated by drinking the proper amount of fluids, including water. You should also consume the proper amount of salt in your diet, which is about 2,000 milligrams of sodium per day for the typical adult. Finally, talk to your doctor to see whether any of your current prescription or over-the-counter medications might be raising your risk of developing hypercalcemia.

Steve Kim, MDAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Was this helpful?

Hypercalcemia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

What is hypercalcemia?

Hypercalcemia is a condition in which you have too high a concentration of calcium in your blood. Calcium is essential for the normal function of organs, cells, muscles, and nerves. It’s also important in blood clotting and bone health.

However, too much of it can cause problems. Hypercalcemia makes it hard for the body to carry out its normal functions. Extremely high levels of calcium can be life-threatening.

You might not have any noticeable symptoms if you have mild hypercalcemia. If you have a more serious case, you will typically have signs and symptoms that affect various parts of your body.

General

• headaches
• fatigue

Kidneys

Symptoms related to the kidneys include:

• excessive thirst
• excessive urination
• pain between your back and upper abdomen on one side due to kidney stones

Abdomen

Symptoms related to the abdomen include:

• nausea
• abdominal pain
• decreased appetite
• constipation
• vomiting

Heart

High calcium can affect the electrical system of the heart, causing abnormal heart rhythms.

Muscles

Calcium levels can affect your muscles, causing twitches, cramps, and weakness.

Skeletal system

High calcium levels can affect bones, leading to:

• bone pain
• osteoporosis
• fractures from disease

Neurological symptoms

Hypercalcemia can also cause neurological symptoms, such as depression, memory loss, and irritability. Severe cases can cause confusion and coma.

If you have cancer and experience any symptoms of hypercalcemia, call your doctor immediately. It’s not uncommon for cancer to cause elevated calcium levels. When this occurs it’s a medical emergency.

Your body uses the interaction between calcium, vitamin D, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) to regulate calcium levels.

PTH helps the body control how much calcium comes into the blood stream from the intestines, kidneys, and bones. Normally, PTH increases when the calcium level in your blood falls and decreases when your calcium level rises.

Your body can also make calcitonin from the thyroid gland when your calcium level gets too high. When you have hypercalcemia, there is excess calcium in your blood stream and your body can’t regulate your calcium level normally.

There are several possible causes of this condition:

Hyperparathyroidism

The parathyroid glands are four small glands located behind the thyroid gland in the neck. They control the production of the parathyroid hormone, which in turn regulates calcium in the blood.

Hyperparathyroidism occurs when one or more of your parathyroid glands becomes overly active and releases too much PTH. This creates a calcium imbalance that the body cannot correct on its own. This is the leading cause of hypercalcemia, especially in women over 50 years old.

Lung diseases and cancers

Granulomatous diseases, such as tuberculosis and sarcoidosis, are lung diseases that can cause your vitamin D levels to rise. This causes more calcium absorption, which increases the calcium level in your blood.

Some cancers, especially lung cancer, breast cancer, and blood cancers, can raise your risk for hypercalcemia.

Medication side effects

Some medications, particularly diuretics, can produce hypercalcemia. They do this by causing severe fluid diuresis, which is a loss of body water, and an underexcretion of calcium. This leads to an excess concentration of calcium in the blood.

Other drugs, such as lithium, cause more PTH to be released.

Dietary supplements and over-the-counter medications

Taking too much vitamin D or calcium in the form of supplements can raise your calcium level. Excessive use of calcium carbonate, found in common antacids like Tums and Rolaids, can also lead to high calcium levels.

High doses of these over-the-counter products are the third most common cause of hypercalcemia in the United States.

Dehydration

This usually leads to mild cases of hypercalcemia. Dehydration causes your calcium level to rise due to the low amount of fluid you have in your blood. However, the severity greatly depends on your kidney function.

In people with chronic kidney disease, the effects of dehydration are greater.

Your doctor can use blood tests to check the calcium level in your blood. Urine tests that measure calcium, protein, and other substances can also be helpful.

If your doctor finds a high calcium level, they’ll order more tests to find out the cause of your condition. Blood and urine tests can help your doctor diagnose hyperparathyroidism and other conditions.

Tests that can allow your doctor to check for evidence of cancer or other diseases that can cause hypercalcemia include:

• chest X-rays, which can reveal lung cancer
• mammograms, which help diagnose breast cancer
• CT scans, which form a more detailed image of your body
• MRI scans, which produce detailed images of your body’s organs and other structures
• DEXA bone mineral density tests, which evaluate bone strength

Treatment options for hypercalcemia depend on the severity of the condition and the underlying cause.

Mild cases

You may not need immediate treatment if you have a mild case of hypercalcemia, depending on the cause. However, you will need to monitor its progress. Finding the underlying cause is important.

The effect that elevated calcium levels have on your body relate not just to the level of calcium present, but how quickly it rises. Therefore, it’s important to stick to your doctor’s recommendations for follow-up.

Even mildly elevated levels of calcium can lead to kidney stones and kidney damage over time.

Moderate to severe cases

You will likely need hospital treatment if you have a moderate to severe case. The goal of treatment is to return your calcium level to normal. Treatment also aims to prevent damage to your bones and kidneys. Common treatment options include the following:

• Calcitonin is a hormone produced in the thyroid gland. It slows down bone loss.
• Intravenous fluids hydrate you and lower calcium levels in the blood.
• Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory medications. They’re useful in the treatment of too much vitamin D.
• Loop diuretic medications can help your kidneys move fluid and get rid of extra calcium, especially if you have heart failure.
• Intravenous bisphosphonates lower blood calcium levels by regulating bone calcium.
• Dialysis can be performed to rid your blood of extra calcium and waste when you have damaged kidneys. This is usually done if other treatment methods aren’t working.

Primary hyperparathyroidism

Depending on your age, kidney function, and bone effects, you might need surgery to remove the abnormal parathyroid glands. This procedure cures most cases of hypercalcemia caused by hyperparathyroidism.

If surgery isn’t an option for you, your doctor may recommend a medication called cinacalcet (Sensipar). This lowers your calcium level by decreasing PTH production. If you have osteoporosis, your doctor might have you take bisphosphonates to lower your risk of fractures.

Cancer

If you have cancer, your doctor will discuss treatment options with you to help you determine the best ways to treat hypercalcemia.

You might be able to get relief from symptoms through intravenous fluids and medications like bisphosphonates. This might make it easier for you to deal with your cancer treatments.

The medication cinacalcet can also be used to treat high calcium levels due to parathyroid cancer. Research suggests it may also have a role in the treatment of hypercalcemia due to other cancers as well.

Hypercalcemia can cause kidney problems, such as kidney stones and kidney failure. Other complications include irregular heartbeats and osteoporosis.

Hypercalcemia can also cause confusion or dementia since calcium helps keep your nervous system functioning properly. Serious cases can lead to a potentially life-threatening coma.

Your long-term outlook will depend on the cause and how severe your condition is. Your doctor can determine the best treatment for you.

Talk to your doctor regularly to stay informed and ask questions. Be sure to keep up with any recommended follow-up tests and appointments.

You can do your part to help protect your kidneys and bones from damage due to hypercalcemia by making healthy lifestyle choices. Make sure you drink plenty of water. This will keep you hydrated, keep blood levels of calcium down, and decrease your risk of developing kidney stones.

Since smoking can speed up bone loss, it’s important to quit as soon as possible. Smoking also causes many other health issues. Quitting smoking can only help your health.

A combination of physical exercises and strength training can keep your bones strong and healthy. Talk to your doctor first to find out what types of exercises are safe for you. This is especially important if you have cancer that affects your bones.

Make sure to follow guidelines for the doses of over-the-counter supplements and medications to decrease the risk of excessive vitamin D and calcium intake.

Q:

What precautions should I take if I think I may be at risk for hypercalcemia?

Anonymous patient

A:

There are several proactive steps you can take. You should stay adequately hydrated by drinking the proper amount of fluids, including water. You should also consume the proper amount of salt in your diet, which is about 2,000 milligrams of sodium per day for the typical adult. Finally, talk to your doctor to see whether any of your current prescription or over-the-counter medications might be raising your risk of developing hypercalcemia.

Steve Kim, MDAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Was this helpful?

Hypercalcemia (hypocalcemia) – health articles

11/10/2022

“Extra” calcium, as well as its lack, is not beneficial for the body, causing pathologies of internal organs. Calcium is one of the most important “building” elements, thanks to which various processes in the body are regulated. The main share is involved in the development of the skeleton, in the growth of teeth, nails, hair.

Hypercalcemia – high calcium content can cause malfunction of the stomach, kidneys (reduced glomerular filtration rate), heart muscle, nervous system.

Hypocalcemia – low free calcium in the blood can be caused by endocrine diseases, including hypoparathyroidism (pseudohypoparathyroidism), thyrotoxicosis, pheochromocytoma and parathyrocrinin deficiency. Metastases in neoplasms, kidney disease, pancreas, sepsis have a negative effect.

It is important to determine the causes of both excess and shortage of the element.

Causes

The main causes of hypercalcemia are an excess of parathyroid hormone in the body (hyperparathyroidism), oncology and long-term use of calcium preparations.
Hypocalcemia almost always develops against the background of parathyroid hormone deficiency, which is produced by the upper and lower parathyroid glands. Interacting with the hormone calcitonin (thyroid gland), the exchange of phosphorus and calcium in the body is regulated.

An excess of calcium, just like a deficiency, develops with deviations in the functioning of organs and systems.

Symptoms

The first signs of hypercalcemia may not be noticeable, and only a random blood test will indicate problems. The appearance of obvious symptoms of increased calcium in the blood depends on the duration of this condition, the rate of development, and the severity of the underlying disease.

These symptoms are manifested by the main systems of the body: nervous, muscular, digestive, urinary, cardiovascular, eye and skin diseases. The patient’s memory deteriorates, lethargy, drowsiness, depressive states, weakness and pain in the muscles, restless legs syndrome at night, loss of appetite, constipation, nausea, gag reflex and belching appear. Weight loss is possible against the background of pancreatitis, cholelithiasis, stomach ulcers with high acidity. Develops arthritis and arthrosis, gout.

Hypocalcemia is often combined with a lack of potassium, which leads to excessive excitability of neurons. As a result, there are muscle cramps (shoulders, hands, larynx, facial muscles). Skin sensitivity is also disturbed, there are sensations of burning or numbness. Hemorrhagic syndrome develops, which is manifested by increased bleeding. Blood clotting is reduced. There are dystrophic changes in the tissues, defects in the teeth, brittle nails, dull hair, dry skin, heart rhythm is often disturbed, and cataracts develop.

Diagnosis

If symptoms of hypocalcemia are detected, it is necessary to consult an endocrinologist. To make a diagnosis, as a rule, the following are prescribed: a general blood and urine test, electrocardiography, densitometry (analysis of bone density), MRI of internal organs.

Blood and urine tests are also done for hypercalcemia. In addition, x-rays of the chest, skull, and extremities may show bony lesions.

Treatment

The initial stage of hypercalcemia, caused by excessive consumption of foods and drugs containing calcium, the problem of a slight increase in the amount of calcium in the human body will help to solve: changing the diet towards reducing the amount of foods containing a large amount of calcium. Adjustment of doses, replacement or refusal of drugs containing calcium. With healthy kidneys, sufficient water intake, preferably distilled (no more than 2 months).

If hypercalcemia has developed against the background of serious illnesses, then the treatment is aimed at the underlying disease and cleansing the body of excess calcium. During normal kidney function, calcium is usually flushed out with diuretics and intravenous saline. In severe conditions, hemodialysis is performed (purification of the blood from decay products). If the process of increased calcium excretion from the bones cannot be stopped, then hormonal preparations are used.

The main task in case of hypocalcemia is to compensate for calcium deficiency in the body. In addition, treatment is aimed at eliminating the cause of the disease. So, with hypoparathyroidism (lack of parathyroid hormone), hormone therapy is prescribed. The chronic form of hypocalcemia is treated with regular intake of calcium tablets and vitamin D. In addition, measures are taken to normalize the level of magnesium, potassium and protein in the blood.

The Role of Calcium in the Body (Deficiency Symptoms Daily Value)

Calcium is an element that each of us needs. The body does not produce it on its own, so we must get it daily from food. It is responsible for many important processes in the body. It can be obtained by consuming appropriate foods, as well as in the form of dietary supplements.

The Role of Calcium in the Body

Calcium plays a vital role in many basic bodily processes. The body needs calcium for blood circulation and hormone production. It also affects the performance of our muscles, healthy sleep and mood. Calcium also helps carry information from the brain to other parts of the body. It is responsible for regulating the nervous system.

In addition, he takes care of the health of teeth and bones. Calcium is what makes our bones strong and dense. They are a reservoir of calcium, because up to 99% is found in bones and teeth. The rest is spread over all cells. Interestingly, in the body of an adult calcium is about 1. 2 kg. If you don’t get enough calcium in your diet, your body will take it from your bones and teeth, making them weak. It also speeds up wound healing and helps blood to clot properly.

Symptoms of calcium deficiency

The normal level of calcium in the blood is 8.5 to 10.5 mg/dL. The lack of this mineral in the body can lead to various health problems.

Mild calcium deficiency is most often manifested by muscle cramps, joint pain, tingling and numbness in the extremities. In some cases, the heart rate decreases. With a greater lack of calcium in the body, sleep disturbances and even bleeding, for example, from the nose, may occur. One of the symptoms is also rapidly developing caries.

In adults, calcium deficiency may contribute to the development of osteoporosis or increase the risk of bone fractures. Interestingly, osteoporosis is most common in older women, so they are advised to consume more calcium than men.

Calcium is very important for babies as they grow and develop. Babies who don’t get enough calcium may not develop normally. It most often manifests itself as problems with the growth or loss of teeth, but can also lead to other serious diseases.

Calcium and vitamin D.

Vitamin D is essential for proper absorption of calcium. Similarly, phosphorus is absorbed into both of these minerals in the small intestine. This depends on the proper condition of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, but also on the so-called transporter, which is necessary to transport calcium through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream.

This means that calcium alone is not enough. You should also take care of proper vitamin D levels, but also try to catch every ray of sunshine if possible, because the skin naturally produces vitamin D after sun exposure. In Ukraine, this is quite difficult, because usually from September to May the sun is not active enough. Unfortunately, the sun is the best source of this vitamin. However, sunbathing should also be used in moderation.

Causes of calcium deficiency

The risk of calcium deficiency increases with age. However, the most common cause is poor nutrition, especially in childhood. Then bones and teeth develop, and calcium is essential for this process. Therefore, proper nutrition directly affects our health.

Another cause may be an intolerance to foods rich in calcium. Sometimes the medications we need to take reduce the absorption of this mineral.

In addition, calcium deficiency is often not our fault, because it is genetically determined or there are hormonal changes that reduce the absorption of calcium. This is especially true for women.

Recommended Daily Intake of Calcium

It is important to ensure proper calcium intake at any age. For children and adolescents, the recommended daily intake of calcium is the same for both sexes. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the daily calcium intake for children should be:

• Children 0-6 months – 200 mg
• Children 7-12 months – 260 mg
• Children 1-3 years – 700 mg.
• Children 4-8 years – 1000 mg.
• Children 9-18 years – 1300 mg.

However, the recommended daily intake of calcium for adults remains a controversial issue. Studies of the daily requirement of the human body for calcium, conducted in 1997-2006, showed that the optimal daily dose is 750 mg. Other studies have confirmed that this is the ideal dose to reduce the risk of bone fractures.

Interestingly, many countries have their own theory about this. For example, in Scandinavia the RDA is 800 mg, while in the UK it is 700 mg. In the United States, these recommendations are very high at 1200 mg/day. In France, this figure is also different and is 900 mg per day.

Foods rich in calcium

Studies show that parmesan is the richest food in calcium. 100 grams of the product contains up to 1380 mg of calcium. Other yellow cheeses, such as Edam, Tilsit and Goliath, also rank very high in calcium-rich foods. It is also abundant in white and blue cheeses. These are, for example, feta cheese, brie, camembert, and also processed cheese.

The milk that contains the most calcium is skimmed milk and whole milk powder, but basically all dairy products contain calcium. Some a little more, some a little less.

In addition, there are also many foods that are not made from milk and also contain a lot of calcium. These include seeds such as poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and chia seeds. One teaspoon or about 9 grams of Maca provides 126 mg.

Another good source of calcium as well as vitamin D is fish. Most of it is in sardines and salmon, because their bones are eaten and they contain the most of this mineral. In particular, oily fish contains high-quality protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for the heart, brain, and skin. While seafood may contain mercury, smaller fish such as sardines are low in mercury. In addition, both sardines and salmon contain high levels of selenium, a compound that can prevent mercury toxicity to the body.

For people who do not consume animal products, tofu is a good alternative. Calcium-rich vegan foods also include almonds, beans, lentils, and dark green leafy vegetables. These include, for example, spinach, cabbage, and sorrel.

Excess calcium in the body

For any mineral, vitamin or nutrient, it is important to get the right amount throughout the day. Too much calcium can have side effects. Symptoms such as constipation, gas, and flatulence may indicate that too much of this element is being taken into the body.

Also, too much calcium can increase the risk of kidney stones. In rare cases, an overdose can cause a buildup of calcium in the blood. This is called hypercalcemia.

Some doctors believe that taking calcium supplements may increase the risk of heart disease, while others say otherwise. More research is needed on how calcium supplements affect heart health.

Summary

Calcium is essential for our body to function properly.