Calcium Deficiency : Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Etc

ASSISTENT DOCTOR - Calcium Deficiency : Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Etc

Calcium is a vital mineral that the body needs to build bones, teeth, and heart and muscles to function properly. When the body has low calcium levels, it will cause health disorders in the teeth, bone problems of osteoporosis, cataracts, and brain work system changes. Knowing the consequences of calcium deficiency, the characteristics of calcium deficiency, calcium deficiency should eat what, etc.

What is calcium deficiency?

Calcium deficiency is a body condition where the level of calcium in the blood is relatively low. This condition is also called hypocalcemia that can interfere with the functioning of the nervous system, tooth and bone decay, seizures, cramps, and other important organ work disorders.

Read Also : Blood Group A Risk Of Being Affected By Corona COVID-19, Really?

The body needs adequate calcium intake to build strong bones and teeth. The benefits of calcium also to maintain the health of the muscles and heart to work properly.Based on the recommended daily intake, here are the needs of each person's calcium:

1. Adults need 1,000 mg of calcium per day.
2. Children aged 4-18 years need 1,300 mg of calcium per day.
3. Women over the age of 50 years need 1,200 mg of calcium per day.
4. Males over the age of 50 years need 1,000 mg of calcium per day.

If one does not meet the calcium needs in the body in the long term, this condition will trigger growth disorders and serious health problems. A person experiencing this condition may not have significant symptoms.

Symptoms Of Calcium Deficiency

Their symptoms vary depending on gender, age, and severity. The following is due to calcium deficiency in the body:

1. Osteoporosis and Osteopenia

Osteoporosis and Osteopenia occur due to low calcium levels. Osteoporosis is a bone fragility that is prone to fractures, while Osteopenia is a lack of bone mineral density.

Both conditions due to calcium deficiency cause pain, posture problems, and increase the risk of bone-related defects.

2. Muscle Problems

Low calcium levels cause muscular problems such as cramps, pain, tingling, muscle spasms, to numbness. This condition generally occurs in the arms, hands, feet, and around the mouth but most people do not realize that it is a calcium deficiency characteristic.

3. Extreme Fatigue

As a result of calcium deficiency, one can feel extreme fatigue, drowsiness, and insomnia. People with calcium deficiency are also always feeling lethargic, faint, weak, mild headache, and not energized.

4. Skin Problems

Low calcium levels in one's body will also affect the health of skin and its nails with symptoms of redness, itching, blister, dry, and fragile or broken nails. In some cases, this condition also causes hair loss and alopecia or baldness.

5. Dental Problems

The benefits of calcium are to maintain the density and strength of teeth and bones. Calcium deficiency disease will make brittle teeth, gum irritation, and tooth decay in the future.

6. Painful Premenstrual Syndrome

Low calcium levels and premenstrual symptoms are never associated, but studies have proved that women with low calcium levels tend to experience more painful pre-menstrual symptoms.

7. Depression

Some studies believe that calcium deficiency disease contributes to increased symptoms of depression, but advanced research is still needed.

Some of the other features of calcium deficiency include:

• Tingling or numbness in hands, feet, and face
• Hallucinations
• Chest Pain
• Hard to swallow
• Voice changes
• Itching
• Cataracts

Some people may not even experience any symptom until the condition lasts long term.

When to go to a doctor?

If you experience these symptoms and realize you are not adequate daily calcium needs, contact a physician immediately. Be aware also to contact a doctor if you experience additional symptoms such as vomiting more than 4-5 times per day, no appetite, diarrhea, or severe constipation.

Causes Of Calcium Deficiency

The following causes calcium deficiency:

• Insufficient intake of calcium in a long period of time, especially in children
• Intolerance to calcium-rich foods like milk allergies
• Specific hormonal changes in women
• Specific genetic factors
• Using certain medications that reduce the absorption of calcium from food
• It is important to meet the appropriate calcium requirements recommended for all people of all ages.

Risk factors For Calcium Deficiency

Another factor that triggers a person has low calcium levels is poor nutrition and malabsorption. Poor nutrition occurs because the person does not have access to adequate consumption of healthy food. While malabsorption is a condition when the body is not able to absorb vitamins, minerals, and nutrients including calcium with good triggered some specific medical conditions, including:

• Side effects of the use of drugs such as phenytoin, phenobarbital, rifampicin, corticosteroids, and certain chemotherapy drugs
• Hypermagnesemia and Hypomagnesemia
• Pancreatitis
• Hyperphosphatemia
• Septic Shock
• Blood transfusions
• Renal failure
• Hungry bone syndrome due to hyperparathyroidism surgery
• Postoperative effects of thyroid gland removal
• Vitamin D deficiency to absorb calcium

If your blood calcium levels are low, the body will retain calcium levels by taking it directly from the bones so that the bones become brittle in the long run.

Diagnosis Of Calcium Deficiency

Your doctor will ask you about a family history that may have a history of osteoporosis due to low calcium levels. The doctor will also ask about the daily diet. When doctors suspect symptoms of calcium deficiency, the doctor will ask for a blood sample for further investigation.

Normal blood calcium levels are 8.8 to 10.4 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) for adults, while normal children have higher blood calcium levels. If in a blood test indicates the number below, you are at risk of developing calcium deficiency disease.

Calcium Deficiency Treatment

What calcium deficiency should I eat? Here's how to overcome calcium deficiency:

1. Changing The Diet

The easiest way to solve this is by adding calcium intake in the daily menu, including:

• Milk
• Processed dairy products such as cheese and yogurt
• Soy milk
• Broccoli
• Know
• Nuts and grains such as almonds and sesame seeds
• Cereals
• Sardines and salmon
• Dark green leafy vegetables

Your doctor will advise you to do a healthy diet before taking a calcium supplement. Consumption of high calcium foods daily will help restore the body condition.

2. Calcium Supplements

The doctor may recommend calcium supplements in more severe conditions, including:

• Calcium carbonate
• Calcium most Elemental
• Calcium citrate
• Calcium phosphate
• Other calcium supplements in liquid, tablet, and chewable form

You can only use calcium supplements based on a doctor's prescription and cannot be combined with high calcium foods because it increases the risk of excess calcium. Too much calcium can increase the risk of kidney stones, heart disease, and other health disorders.

Complications Of Calcium Deficiency

Low calcium levels in the body can lead to complications:

• Difficult to walk
• Fractures
• Accessible hotels

This condition can be fatal if not immediately handled by calcium intake and other treatments.

Prevention Of Calcium Deficiency

How to prevent calcium levels from being low is to ensure calcium intake in your daily menu. You can routinely consume milk, kale, soybeans, broccoli, salmon, radish, and other nutritious healthy foods.

Read Also : 7 First Aid Vertigo You Can Do

The recommended daily calcium amount for people aged 19-50 is 1,000 milligrams (mg), while older children, adolescents, and adults are advised to meet calcium intake between 1,200 mg – 1,300 mg.

Calcium eficiency disease can be prevented with a healthy diet or injections of the supplement in a few weeks. Always keep your health protected from a variety of health problems.

Share this post