Calcium Levels in the Body
How do the parathyroids affect calcium?
The parathyroid glands are the main regulators of calcium, and too much or too little calcium can cause significant problems. Parathyroid hormone increases calcium blood levels in many ways. The primary way is by removing calcium from the bones. The bones, however, do not only store the calcium but also require it for strength.
Elevated calcium blood levels indicate decreased bone calcium.
When your parathyroid functions normally, only a small amount of calcium is removed from the bones. If too much parathyroid hormone is produced, too much calcium is removed your bones. The result? Osteoporosis ("brittle bones") and a high risk of fracture.
When are calcium levels too high?
The normal range for calcium is about 8.5 to 10.5 mg. If the calcium level is greater than 10.5, there is too much calcium (hypercalcemia) in the body and the elevated levels can kill cells or interfere with their normal function. If the calcium levels are too high or too low, you should call ChicagoENT to determine the causes of abnormal calcium levels in the blood.
| Problems Caused By High Blood Calcium Levels: • Kidney stones or kidney disease • Muscle weakness • Memory loss, confusion • Constipation |
• Abdominal pains • Peptic ulcers • High blood pressure and congestive heart failure • Heart malfunctions |
When calcium levels have been raised back to a normal level, the parathyroid glands should stop making and releasing parathyroid hormone. Occasionally, one or more of the parathyroid glands becomes diseased and continue making the parathyroid hormone---the parathyroid hormone level increases and the calcium level increases. This is called hyperparathyroidism and is usually due to the development of a benign (non-cancerous) tumor on one of the parathyroid glands. Very rarely, this could be due to parathyroid cancer.
What causes high blood calcium levels?
The most common cause for high calcium levels is hyperparathyroidism: an elevated parathyroid hormone level. The parathyroid glands are small glands in the neck close to the thyroid gland.
What does the parathyroid hormone do?
- increases the amount of calcium absorbed from food
- increases the amount of calcium reabsorbed back into the body by the kidneys
- releases calcium from bones
