Health Tips

Signs That Your Body Needs More Calcium

Calcium is an essential mineral for the human body. It helps your body to create healthy bones and teeth. Your heart and other muscles also require calcium to operate properly. Children who don't get enough calcium may not reach their full potential height as adults. 

Through your diet, supplements, or vitamins, you should get the recommended daily intake of calcium which is about 1,000 mg of calcium per day for adults.

Nevertheless calcium insufficiency is rather typical. But locating it can be challenging. How can you tell if you are short of calcium? 

Calcium Deficiency

Calcium deficiency or also known as hypocalcemia meaning excessively low levels of calcium in the blood. Numerous health problems or issues might result from a calcium deficiency.

Diagnosis of Hypocalcemia

If you experience the symptoms of a calcium deficiency, speak with your doctor. Your medical history will be examined, and you'll be asked about any family members who have had osteoporosis or a calcium deficiency.

Your doctor will take a blood sample to assess your blood calcium level if they suspect you may be deficient in calcium. Your doctor will check your levels of albumin, ionized (or free) calcium, and total calcium. A protein called albumin binds to calcium and carries it through the blood. A diagnosis of calcium deficiency disorder may be confirmed by persistently low calcium levels in your blood.

Low Levels

Adult calcium levels should be between 8.5 and 10.5 mg/dL to be considered as normal. These numbers may slightly differ from lab to lab. A total blood calcium level of less than 8.5 mg/dL is considered hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemia is considered serious if blood calcium levels fall below 7 mg/dL.

Signs and Symptoms Of Hypocalcemia

If left untreated, hypocalcemia can be fatal. Please seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms :

1. Muscle Spasm and Cramps

Muscle spasms and cramps are the characteristic signs of a calcium deficiency. Muscles can contract and relax with the aid of calcium. Muscles lacking calcium can no longer maintain their normal tone. Aches, cramps, spasms, and muscle weakness may result from this.

2. Numbness and Tingling

Another hallmark sign of hypocalcemia is tingling in the extremities, particularly in the hands and feet. Numbness is a symptom of severe deficiency. Nerve cells have difficulty registering sensations and sending signals when calcium levels fall too low.

3. Fatigue

Fatigue may also result from hypocalcemia. Calcium is needed for muscle fibers and neurons, so when it is depleted in cells, weariness sets in, resulting in weakness and exhaustion.

4. Seizures

For neurotransmitter release in brain cells and muscle contraction, appropriate calcium levels are necessary. Seizures may result from the brain's overexcitation caused by hypocalcemia.

5. Atypical Heart Rhythm

Hypocalcemia frequently manifests as irregular heartbeat, which if severe, can be fatal. It frequently results in many anomalies that an electrocardiogram can detect.

Given that the heart is a muscle, it should be no shock that a calcium deficiency can cause problems with the heart. Heart cells stop functioning properly if they do not receive adequate calcium. This may disrupt the regular heartbeat, produce cardiac muscle spasms, and restrict the arteries.

6. Dry Skin

Hypocalcemia could also present as dry or scaly skin. A lesser-known function of calcium is to support skin health by lowering the pH of the skin and protecting the skin barrier. This stops the skin from losing too much water. Blood calcium levels that are too low make it impossible for the skin to retain moisture and a suitable pH.

7. Osteopenia and Osteoporosis

Brittle bones, often known as osteoporosis, are disorders caused by a lack of calcium. Osteopenia is a less severe variation of osteoporosis. When blood calcium levels fall, your body must release more calcium from bones to make up the difference. Throughout time, a calcium deficit can result in extremely fragile bones, increased fracture risk, and significant bone weakness.

8. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is extremely common, and there are numerous potential causes. Low vitamin D and calcium levels can cause it or make the symptoms worse.

9. Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

Teeth are kept strong and protected by calcium. Minerals in the teeth can be broken down by food, beverages, and oral microorganisms. It takes a sufficient amount of calcium to stop this mineral loss. Additionally, research indicates that a calcium deficit is one of the causes of gum disease.

10. Rickets

Children who do not get enough calcium or vitamin D may develop rickets. Lack of calcium limits the appropriate mineralization of bones, which is crucial for a growing child. Bones deteriorate and soften, and deformities are also likely to happen. In the developed world, rickets is rare.

11. Confusion and Memory Loss

Hypocalcemia may cause confusion, disorientation, and memory loss. Calcium is essential for the health of brain and nerve cells. Neurotransmitter release is stimulated when calcium enters nerve cells. Cognitive function can be greatly hampered by calcium deficiency.

12. Cataracts

Cataracts, in which there is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye that leads to a decrease in vision, can also result from a calcium deficit.

Best Sources of Calcium

There are several other excellent sources of calcium outside dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt, which are commonly known to be high in calcium, such as :

• Kale, okra, spinach, broccoli, and other green leafy veggies.

• Added calcium soya drinks.

• Fortified bread and cereals.

• Nuts and seeds.

• Fish with edible bones, such as sardines and pilchards.

Do We Need Calcium Supplement?

There is no need to take a calcium supplement if you consume a healthy, balanced diet with a variety of foods. If you think you need supplements, it's better to talk to your doctor first as taking more calcium could raise your levels too high, resulting in harm.

Note From DOC2US:

You may or may not experience symptoms if your blood calcium levels are low. Depending on the extent and length of your hypocalcemia, your symptoms may be moderate or severe. If untreated, hypocalcemia poses a risk to life. Therefore, if you suspect you might have suffered from hypocalcemia, go get an immediate medical attention!

Written by Anas Fikri, MB BCh;
Medically reviewed by Nur Ariffin, MBBS UniSZA

References: 

Anne L Schafer, Dolores M Shoback, (2016) Hypocalcemia: Diagnosis and Treatment, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279022/

Institute of Medicine (US) Committee to Review Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin D and Calcium; Ross AC, Taylor CL, Yaktine AL, et al., editors. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2011. 2, Overview of Calcium. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK56060/

Written by

DOC2US Editorial Team