Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Lower Blood Calcium Levels

According to University of California, San Francisco, pharmacy researcher Julie Schwenka, high calcium in the blood is among the most common life threatening disorders that is associated with cancer. This disorder, called hypercalcemia, is caused by the overworking of the parathyroid glands that normalize calcium levels, according to the Mayo Clinic. Hypercalcemia causes the bones to deteriorate faster than they are being restored because the kidneys, which eliminate excess calcium, cannot keep up with the abundant amount of calcium being produced.


Instructions


1. Familiarize yourself with the symptoms of hypercalcemia. A mild case of the disorder normally has very few or no symptoms at all. According to the Mayo Clinic, severe cases of hypercalcemia can have extreme symptoms, such as nausea, frequent thirst, constipation, confusion, and fatigue. Muscle pain and weakness is a common symptom, but is most present in elderly people.


2. Drink two to three quarts of liquid every day. According to chemocare.com, staying hydrated is a key part in lowering your calcium levels. Frequent urination is a regular symptom amongst people suffering from hypercalcemia, so the intake of fluids helps to prevent dehydration. It also helps to rid the excess calcium from the body without the risk of dehydration.


3. Exercise to promote the body's healthy, regular functions, which assist in lowering calcium levels. As noted by virtualcancercentre.com, regular activity is a highly necessary element in the treatment of high calcium levels in the blood. Inactivity causes the symptoms to worsen and the disorder to become a more serious issue.


4. Stop taking any vitamins or supplements that contain high levels of calcium, or substances that might cause your body to retain calcium. These include vitamin A, vitamin D and any calcium supplement. If these are put into the body, calcium levels will increase, adding on to the negative effects of hypercalcemia.








5. Seek medical attention if any of the symptoms become very extreme or unbearable. If the nausea impedes your ability to eat a normal meal, for example, a doctor should be contacted. Other reasons for seeing a doctor include uncontrollable diarrhea, extreme abdominal pain or any new and unusual rashes on the body, according to chemocare.com. A medical professional has the proper equipment and medication to help alleviate and control your symptoms.

Tags: calcium levels, excess calcium, high calcium, Mayo Clinic