Don’t Be Complacent With Your Calcium Levels

The most abundant mineral in the body is calcium. Calcium is required for the building and maintenance of healthy bones and teeth, plays important roles in blood clotting, muscle function, and blood pressure. It also supports proper nerve function and colon health. It is estimated that 42% of Americans aren’t getting the recommended amount of dietary calcium.

Looking through the drugstore shelves or an online search yields hundreds, if not thousands of calcium-containing OTC products.

Symptoms

Although low calcium doesn’t present with signs, it can lead to “silent” conditions such as osteoporosis or high blood pressure. In addition, an excessively low level of calcium can trigger a variety of symptoms such as:

• Tooth decay and gum disease

• Abnormal heart rhythm

• Brain fog and memory loss

• Depression

• Dry skin

• Fatigue

• Muscle cramps and spasms

• Numbness and tingling in extremities

• Premenstrual syndrome

• Seizures

• Weak, brittle nails

Causes of Low Calcium Levels

Certain medications can contribute to calcium deficiency. Examples include anti-seizure medications (e.g., phenobarbital), glucocorticoids (e.g., prednisone), and proton pump inhibitors (e.g., Omeprazole) that reduce the absorption of calcium. Low vitamin D levels or abnormal parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels can cause calcium deficiency, even if you consume enough calcium.

THERAPY FOR HORMONE IMBALANCES IN WOMEN

Gastroenteritis or chronic inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis affect calcium absorption. Healthy kidneys play an important role in regulating calcium. Less calcium is retained in the body by diseased kidneys. Estrogen plays an important role in calcium absorption by increasing blood levels of vitamin D. At menopause, the drop in estrogen levels can increase the risk of osteoporosis in women. Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) is sometimes accompanied by a calcium deficiency.

Interesting fact:

A severe low calcium level after menopause can increase a dangerous type of fat called visceral fat. This fat surrounds your liver, stomach, and intestine. Visceral fat can increase the risk of problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.

Always ensure that you get your calcium levels in check and take a look at the causes that you may be suffering from. If you would like to know more about your calcium levels as well as options for addressing low calcium levels, contact Community Clinical today.