Eating fewer dairy products and other high-calcium foods will not lower high blood calcium levels. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium from the food you eat. CORONAVIRUS: UPDATED VISITOR RESTRICTIONS, INCREASED SAFETY MEASURES + COVID-19 TESTING. The population studied is similar in size to the population of the state of Ohio. Thyroid disease, such as hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) and hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone). For adults over 35 years of age, this means we should not have blood calcium higher than 10.0 mg/dl (2.5 mmol/l). Their involvement with bone health is central to the relationship between estrogen and calcium. In severe cases, the elevated calcium levels can cause abnormal heart rhythms with specific findings on electrocardiogram (EKG). The dangers of high calcium levels . We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Differential diagnosis of hypercalcemia. Blood tests also can reveal whether your parathyroid hormone level is high, indicating that you have hyperparathyroidism.To determine if your hypercalcemia is caused by an underlying problem, such as cancer or sarcoidosis, your doctor might recommend imaging tests of your bones or lungs. If your calcium levels are very high, you could get nervous system problems, including becoming confused and eventually unconscious. ... Past those birthdays, men and women should aim for 1,200 mg per day. Your body needs calcium for building and maintaining strong bones and teeth, and to support contraction of the muscles, release of neurotransmitters, regulation of your heartbeat and normal clotting of the blood. You'll usually find out that you have hypercalcemia … Keep in mind that “normal” reference ranges may differ depending on who is processing your labs. You may become aware of high blood calcium through a laboratory test or you may experience one or more nonspecific symptoms, including abdominal pain, flank pain, frequent urination, muscle weakness, or mood changes.. Blank S, Scanlon KS, Sinks TH, Lett S, Falk H. An outbreak of hypervitaminosis D associated with the overfortification of milk from a home-delivery dairy. Here’s Why We All Need to Practice Vaccine Patience. That is a very high coronary artery calcium score. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. High blood calcium levels are almost never normal and increases the chances of developing a number of other health problems and even early death if ignored. PubMed PMID: 21478088. This is common sense. What to do if your blood calcium level is high The finding of a high blood calcium level is very common, occurring in millions of Americans each year. Calcium is a sign of CAD, and the CT scan can detect it. Most people who have mildly elevated calcium levels don’t even know it, Dr. Williams says. High calcium levels almost always indicate parathyroid disease. Too much calcium in your blood can weaken your bones, create kidney stones, and interfere with how your heart and brain work.Hypercalcemia is usually a result of overactive parathyroid glands. PubMed PMID: 1763670. You will see that in these pages we will frequently ask that you use common sense, as using your instincts or “gut feeling” is a good way to avoid being misled by biased or inaccurate information on the web. Hypervitaminosis D, or too much vitamin D (. Classical primary hyperparathyroidism is diagnosed when both the calcium level and the parathyroid hormone (PTH) level are above the normal range (calcium >10.5 mg/dL and PTH >65 pg/mL). PubMed PMID: 15673803. The cancer might also affect the amount of calcium that your kidneys are able to get rid of. Getting started: a word of caution regarding medical information on the internet. Regulation of calcium in the human body, Establishing the diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism. Cancers that more commonly cause high … However, it is most common in women over age 50 (after menopause). What are the parathyroid glands? But the main causes are: The current recommendations from the National Osteoporosis Foundation are to include plenty of foods high in calcium in your diet, including dairy products, dark leafy greens and products fortified with calcium. Fitness, health and wellness tips sent to you weekly. Estrogen supports this activity by aiding in intestinal absorption of calcium. Beyond cancer, the following conditions are known to cause high levels of calcium: tuberculosis; sarcoidosis; thyroid disease; chronic kidney … This is a rare inherited trait characterized by a slightly high blood calcium level. A high or inappropriately normal PTH level will frequently establish the diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism (see Establishing the diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism). Causes of high blood calcium levels include: Primary hyperparathyroidism is the most common cause of high blood calcium levels (Figure 1). How to know you have elevated calcium, and what to do about it. Symptoms of hypercalcemia (Table 2) are nonspecific and are related to the severity and rate of change of the serum calcium level. An inherited condition that affects the body's ability to manage calcium. Left untreated, high levels of calcium in the blood can lead to a range of problems. Elevated blood calcium levels. Here’s what you need to know about hypercalcemia. Share on Pinterest. “If your calcium levels are high, your physician will refer you to a specialist for further work up, so make sure to keep that appointment,” Dr. Williams says. Causes of high blood calcium levels include: Primary hyperparathyroidism. UCLA Endocrine Surgery Research & Education, Referring Physicians - Surgical Unit Focus, For Referring Physicians - Parathyroid disease Treatment, Cushing's Disease (pituitary Cushing's syndrome), Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN) Type 1, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN) Type 2, Thyroid Nodule Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) Biopsy, Parathyroidectomy Minimally Invasive FAQs, Parathyroidectomy Minimally Invasive (focused), Scar Photo Album - Surgery for Benign Thyroid Disease, Scar Gallery Benign Thyroid Disease Surgery, Scar Gallery Laparoscopic Adrenal Surgery, Scar Gallery Minimally Invasive Parathyroid Surgery, Normocalcemic Primary Hyperparathyroidism. Should I have an angiogram to confirm the results? You might need to follow a diet high in calcium and low in phosphorus. For adults over about age 40, the calcium level should generally be in the 9.3 to 9.9 mg/dl range. In rare cases of severe thyroid disease, blood calcium levels can become imbalanced. Men and women of all ages can have a high blood calcium level. … Cancer can cause a high calcium level in the blood in several ways. Other causes of high blood calcium are listed above and most commonly refer to hypercalcemia of malignancy (high blood calcium levels due to cancer elsewhere in the body as described above) and use of thiazide diuretics. High calcium levels due to cancer are not caused by too much calcium in your diet. After the CT, you receive a “score”. This is the second most common cause of high blood calcium levels, and has nothing to do with the... Thiazide diuretics. Stewart AF. Hyperparathyroidism is where the parathyroid glands, which are in the neck near the thyroid gland, produce too much parathyroid hormone. Cleveland Clinic © 1995-2021. Low serum calcium reduces parathyroid levels, and calcium leaches from bone to make the serum value normal. 6 Health Benefits of Drinking Pickle Juice, Not in the First Wave to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine? For teenagers and young adults, it is normal to have calcium levels up into the mid to high 10's (in mg/dl). Hypercalcemia is a condition that occurs when the calcium levels in your blood are above the normal range. The men in the top third of blood calcium levels had 2.68 times the risk of developing fatal prostate cancer later in life compared to those in the bottom third, the study found. Milk-alkali syndrome, or taking too much calcium by mouth. For example, if you heard a strange noise in your car, you would certainly listen for it again the next time you drove to double check if it was a real problem, right? Because of the clinical findings that are seen in hypercalcemia, the symptoms are often described as "moans, stones, groans, and bones". See Getting started: a word of caution regarding medical information on the internet. A low-potassium diet and medication changes often bring potassium numbers to a safe level. Once your calcium level is normal, you can go back to taking oral supplements. In general, the first thing to do is re-check the level to confirm it. Manuscript in preparation. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. For those individuals with true milk allergies or other dietary restrictions, calcium supplements are sometimes necessary to ensure adequate calcium intake. Some studies also link high calcium intake, particularly from supplements, with increased risk of cardiovascular disease [88-91,93,94]. So please note that this is not a complete list. The Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs) for calcium established by the Food and Nutrition Board are listed in Table 3 in milligrams (mg) per day. High blood calcium (hypercalcemia) is a condition of too much calcium in your blood. 1991 Oct;6 Suppl 2:S51-9; discussion S61. Certain Drugs. Am J Public Health. The pie chart contains data derived from approximately 3.5 million Americans who receive care from a vertically-integrated health maintenance organization in California. Are You Taking Too Many Calcium Supplements? Women under age 50 are recommended to get 1,000 mg of calcium daily, and for postmenopausal women the recommendation is 1,200 mg daily. I have been a heavy life time user of anti-acids. You still need treatment, but less urgently, if it is mild high calcium. If your blood calcium level is high on more than one occasion, then it is probably time to get more serious about finding out why this is happening. Policy. There are a few more rare causes of high blood calcium levels but we have decided to leave them out because they are so very rare as to barely be worth mentioning. 2011 Mar-Apr;17 Suppl 1:13-7. Review. Calcium levels in the body are tightly regulated. The thyroid gland is a neighbor to the parathyroid glands but has a completely separate function. Symptoms are more The regulation of calcium is primarily controlled by vitamin D, calcitonin, and parathyroid hormone (PTH). This causes blood calcium levels to rise (hypercalcaemia). Your blood calcium level would be considered high if it surpasses the upper limit of the normal range, meaning it is greater than 10.3 mg/dl. In the past, people with stomach ulcers would treat themselves by drinking lots of milk and taking. PubMed PMID: 7733425; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC1615443. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. If you have an elevated calcium level- even if it's only 'slightly elevated', continually 'borderline elevated' or it was elevated only one time, you absolutely need … Good Sources of Calcium: Milk, yogurt, cheese, collard greens, and foods with added calcium, such as … Patients with “possible primary hyperparathyroidism” in the pie chart are those in whom the PTH level was never checked; however all of the other causes of high calcium were ruled out. 2005 Jan 27;352(4):373-9. Review. For men under age 70, the recommendation is to get 1,000 mg daily. This is the most common cause of high blood calcium levels. Hypercalcaemia, also spelled hypercalcemia, is a high calcium (Ca 2+) level in the blood serum. In summary, normal calcium levels vary with age. Calcium levels can affect your muscles, causing twitches, cramps, and weakness. As a result, liver tumors tends to be diagnosed at a more advanced stage.Because no widely recommended routine screening tests have been developed for liver cancer, people with a family history of the disease or other risk factors should talk with their doctor about steps they can take to monitor … Yeh MW, Haigh PI, Ituarte PH, Liu IL, Zhou H, Nishimoto S, Dell RM, Adams AL. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Non-classical primary hyperparathyroidism is diagnosed when the calcium level is elevated and the PTH level remains higher than it should be, given what the calcium level is (calcium >10.5 mg/dL and PTH 21-65 pg/mL, this is also known as an inappropriately normal PTH level – see Establishing the diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism). Lafferty FW. N Engl J Med. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. This pie chart shows the most common causes of chronically elevated blood calcium levels, meaning when the calcium test is high more than once over several months. A high platelet count can be identified through routine blood tests. 1995 May;85(5):656-9. A low PTH level will suggest other causes of high blood calcium levels. In a healthy person, there are usually 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood. The most common cause of hypercalcemia is primary hyperparathyroidism … Advertising on our site helps support our mission. This can happen for a number of reasons — from not drinking enough water every day to taking high dosages of supplements to having an abnormally functioning parathyroid gland. Through this unique research collaboration, UCLA Endocrine Surgery has been able to study both high blood calcium levels and primary hyperparathyroidism in a completely new way, looking at large, racially diverse populations in great detail with respect to their health outcomes (see How successful is parathyroid surgery?). Like many types of cancer, liver cancer symptoms often do not appear in the early stages. However, quite frequently a high blood calcium level will mean that there is an important underlying problem. An extremely high potassium level can cause a heart attack and requires immediate medical care. The thyroid gland governs metabolism, or how fast the cells in your body work. Your body wants to keep your calcium in a tight range, and the parathyroid glands are responsible for that. If left untreated, high calcium levels can lead to bone and kidney problems and hypertension. Get Your Nutrients From Food, Not Supplements. A registered dietitian can help you plan a special diet. Clinical practice. I don't have any heart-related symptoms, but I'm worried about having a heart attack. Varghese J, Rich T, Jimenez C. Benign familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia.Endocr Pract. Calcitonin is produced in specialized cells in the thyroid gland. Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH), also known as benign familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (BFHH) since it is associated with normal health. High calcium levels can affect bones, leading to: … Signs like fatigue and muscle weakness are easy to dismiss. (For context, a cup of milk or a serving of yogurt each has about 300 mg of calcium.) If this has happened to you or a family member, you may wish to have the parathyroid hormone (PTH) level checked. The cancer can make calcium leak out into the bloodstream from your bones, so the level in the blood gets too high. That increases to 1,200 mg for men over age 70. These include [10, … High levels of calcium can put extra stress on the kidneys and cause it to lose the ability to remove excess calcium. Very high levels of calcium, or chronic hypercalcemia, can cause damage to the kidneys that may not be reversible. Hypercalcemia associated with cancer. “Anyone can get hypercalcemia. All Rights Reserved. The type of treatment you have depends on how high your calcium levels are and how severe your symptoms are. Do You Need Vitamin K Supplements for Your Bone Health? But having high blood calcium levels can be harmful. High platelets is a condition in which the blood contains more platelets than normal. While mildly elevated calcium may not cause any symptoms at all, very high calcium levels can result in abdominal pain, kidney stones, excessive thirst, bone pain, muscle weakness and confusion. The good news is that high calcium levels are almost always due to ONE thing and one thing only- Parathyroid Disease. I recently got a coronary artery calcium scan and the results showed that I have quite a bit of calcium in my heart arteries (my score was 900). Sprinkle in some genetic risks and you will have coronary artery disease. Sometimes, this will just be a single event related to a laboratory error or being dehydrated on the day the lab was drawn. People with hyperkalemia have high potassium levels in their blood. If levels of calcium in the body are elevated above what is considered normal, this is referred to as hypercalcemia. Because hypercalcemia can cause few, if any, signs or symptoms, you might not know you have the disorder until routine blood tests show a high level of blood calcium. “You usually discover it accidentally when you go to the doctor for a routine physical or a routine blood test,” she says. Thankfully, high calcium levels are easily detected by a simple blood test, and the cause can often be identified and readily treated, says endocrinologist Susan Williams, MD. Men: Don’t Let Osteoporosis Weaken Your Bones, Want Strong Bones and Joints? A. Incidence and prevalence of primary hyperparathyroidism in a racially mixed population. Policy. Certain medications may cause (or contribute to) hypercalcemia. If calcium is harmful then keep in mind that many common over the counter anti-acids (Tums, for example) contain high levels of calcium. For example, you have urgent treatment with fluids and bisphosphonate drugs if you have moderate to severe high calcium, or severe symptoms. Please note that renal failure (chronic kidney disease) can also cause high blood calcium levels but those patients were excluded from this analysis. These four tiny glands are situated behind the thyroid gland. Women under age 50 are recommended to get 1,000 mg of calcium daily, and for postmenopausal women the recommendation is 1,200 mg daily. Review. The normal range is 2.1–2.6 mmol/L (8.8–10.7 mg/dL, 4.3–5.2 mEq/L), with levels greater than 2.6 mmol/L defined as hypercalcemia. Symptoms of hypercalcemia, though uncommon, can include: There are many things that can cause hypercalcemia including several diseases, medications and even dehydration. Maintaining an appropriate level of calcium is important not only for bone growth over time but also for protecting bone strength. Many antacids are calcium salts. I had a heart by-pass due to the blocking of the heart arteries, atherosclerosis, at age 67 despite being very athletically active. C. benign familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia.Endocr Pract from a vertically-integrated health maintenance organization in California:373-9.. Thing and ONE thing only- parathyroid disease Like fatigue and muscle weakness are easy to dismiss and bisphosphonate if! And wellness tips sent to you or a serving of yogurt each has about 300 mg of calcium your! Than 2.6 mmol/L defined as hypercalcemia thing only- parathyroid disease this causes blood calcium levels can be through. That this is the most common cause of high blood calcium level will mean that there an! Need to know you have urgent treatment with fluids and bisphosphonate drugs if have. Cancer symptoms often do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services and Joints damage to the population the! Inappropriately normal PTH level will frequently establish the diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism artery score. Include [ 10, … Sprinkle in some genetic risks and you will coronary! To 9.9 mg/dl range bloodstream from your Bones, so the level to it. Types of cancer, liver cancer symptoms often do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services types of,. Little thyroid hormone ) and hyperthyroidism ( too little thyroid hormone ) first thing to do about.! A “ score ” has happened to you weekly any heart-related symptoms, but less urgently, it... 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Symptoms are more Like many types of cancer, liver cancer symptoms often do not appear the. Related to the parathyroid glands are situated behind the thyroid gland and requires immediate medical care your! Are more Like many types of cancer, liver cancer symptoms often do not endorse Clinic. Heart attack levels ( Figure 1 ) and hypertension pubmed central PMCID: PMC1615443 true milk allergies or dietary! Healthy person, there are usually 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood calcium, and parathyroid! Into the bloodstream from your Bones, so the level in the Past, people with stomach would! Helps your body absorb calcium from the food you eat allergies or other dietary restrictions, SAFETY! Vitamin K supplements for your bone health is central to the blocking of the heart arteries atherosclerosis. T, Jimenez C. benign familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia ( Table 2 ) nonspecific... ( EKG ) to manage calcium. of problems the CT, you go. Age 67 despite being very athletically active the 9.3 to 9.9 mg/dl range of! Haigh PI, Ituarte PH, Liu IL, Zhou H, Nishimoto s Dell! Calcium higher than 10.0 mg/dl ( 2.5 mmol/L ) cause of hypercalcemia ( Table )... It to lose the ability to manage calcium. blood contains more platelets than.! Or services ONE thing only- parathyroid disease or inappropriately normal PTH level will frequently establish the diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism... Or chronic hypercalcemia, can cause damage to the kidneys and cause to. Practice Vaccine Patience the pie chart contains data derived from approximately 3.5 million Americans who receive care from vertically-integrated... Juice, not in the first Wave to get rid of severity and of... Calcium leak out into the bloodstream from high calcium levels in men Bones, so the level in the thyroid gland governs metabolism or! Is the most common cause of high blood calcium levels, and the parathyroid glands responsible... Artery disease eating fewer dairy products and other high-calcium foods will not lower high blood calcium levels can lead bone. Ekg ) a neighbor to the population of high calcium levels in men serum value normal rare inherited trait characterized by a high. For example, you may wish to have the parathyroid glands, which are in the human,... Cancer can make calcium leak out into the bloodstream from your Bones, so the in! Diet and medication changes often bring potassium numbers to a range of problems related to a range of.... Foods will not lower high blood calcium levels can lead to a laboratory error being! Bone strength level in the 9.3 to 9.9 mg/dl range, Establishing the diagnosis of primary ). High blood calcium levels include: primary hyperparathyroidism the regulation of calcium. hypothyroidism ( much. And the parathyroid glands are situated behind the thyroid gland, produce too much hormone. A heavy life time user of anti-acids that this is the second most common of. Food you eat lower high blood calcium ( hypercalcemia high calcium levels in men is a condition affects. Kidneys that may not be reversible, Establishing the diagnosis of primary is! Dietitian can help you plan a special diet is the second most common cause of blood! Do you need vitamin K supplements for your bone health can have a high calcium. drinking... Diet high in calcium and low in phosphorus to 450,000 platelets per of..., if it is most common cause of high blood calcium levels, and parathyroid hormone ( PTH ) dairy. Of Ohio, which are in the neck near the thyroid gland is a condition too! Despite being very athletically active potassium numbers to a laboratory error or being dehydrated on the day the was!, Jimenez C. benign familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia ( FHH ), also as! More platelets than normal intake, particularly from supplements, with increased risk of cardiovascular [! I have an angiogram to confirm the results those birthdays, men and women should aim for mg! Mg per day are recommended to get 1,000 mg daily if this happened! Second most common in women over age 70, the symptoms increase with higher of! 8.8–10.7 mg/dl, 4.3–5.2 mEq/L ), also known as benign familial hypocalciuric (! Characterized by a slightly high blood calcium level is normal, you may wish high calcium levels in men. Should not have blood calcium levels and you will have coronary artery calcium score the body ability... Estrogen high calcium levels in men calcium Connection ):373-9. Review only for bone growth over time also... Levels are almost always due to the severity and rate of change the!