Hypocalcemia Dangers
In addition to the supply in your bones that gives them strength, calcium is found in your bloodstream, where it regulates processes like muscle contraction, blood clotting and heart rhythm, explains the Merck Medical Manual. Low levels of calcium in your bloodstream, or hypocalcemia, may occur for many reasons, including dysfunction of your parathyroid, cancer, pancreatic inflammation or chemotherapy treatment. Hypocalcemia poses a number of health dangers and requires treatment.
Extrapyramidal Symptoms
Hypocalcemia has the potential to cause a set of physical signs known as extrapyramidal symptoms, reports the Cleveland Clinic. Extrapyramidal symptoms are similar to the signs of Parkinson's disease like tremors that occur when attempting to perform intentional movements like eating or writing. Your muscles may feel rigid or immovable, and movements like walking may become very slow. These symptoms occur due to dysfunctions in the way your brain communicates with the nerves that send signals from your brain for your muscles to move.
Seizures
Severe hypocalcemia sometimes causes seizures, according to the Merck Medical Manual. A seizure is a period of abnormal electrical impulses in your brain that comes on suddenly. Symptoms of a seizures include changes in consciousness, memory loss, seeing flashing lights, falling, loss of muscle control, convulsions and a metallic taste in your mouth. Most seizures last for less than 15 minutes, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Dementia
Low levels of blood calcium have the potential to affect brain functioning. In adults, this dysfunction often resembles dementia, which can take many forms, making it difficult to remember things, communicate or problem-solve. Dementia may also take the form of paranoia, irritability, hallucinations and agitation. Fortunately, most patients who experience dementia from hypocalcemia experience a return to normal brain functioning once levels of blood calcium return to normal, explains the Merck Medical Manual.
Musculoskeletal
Since calcium is necessary for your muscle to contract properly, hypocalcemia disrupts muscle functioning, often causing muscle aches, spasms or twitching, reports the Cleveland Clinic. When your blood calcium levels are low, your body may pull calcium from your bones to compensate. Over time, this leaching of calcium from your bones has the potential to cause osteoporosis, a condition where your bones become brittle and susceptible to fractures.
Cardiovascular
As calcium is necessary to regulate the beating of your heart, hypocalcemia poses a risk for cardiovascular complications, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Some patients develop an abnormal heart rate (arrhythmia) or low blood pressure (hypotension). Additionally, your heart may become unable to pump enough blood throughout your body, which results in a condition called congestive heart failure. Depending on what part of your heart is affected, heart failure may cause shortness of breath and coughing or severe swelling of your limbs or abdomen, reports the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Tags: your bones, blood calcium, Cleveland Clinic, from your, Medical Manual, Merck Medical
