7 Causes of low blood calcium and its consequences for the body

So far, we know the benefits of calcium for bones. However, more than that it turns out that calcium is also useful for helping the nervous system work, helping muscles work, helping blood clotting, and helping the heart work. To support this, normally the level of calcium in the blood must always be controlled. Then, what are the consequences if the calcium in the blood is too low?

The function of calcium in the blood

Calcium in the body is influenced by various factors, such as:

Calcium obtained from food
Calcium and vitamin D are absorbed by the intestine
Phosphate levels in the body
Certain hormones, such as parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, and estrogen

Vitamin D and several hormones help control calcium levels in the body. Also, it controls the amount of calcium absorbed from food and the amount of calcium excreted by the body through urine. Meanwhile, phosphate affects the calcium in the body because it works opposite. If the level of phosphate in the blood is high, the calcium level in the blood will be low, and vice versa.

When calcium in the blood is low, this is known as hypocalcemia. As a result, bones have to release their calcium in order to try to balance calcium levels in the blood. Meanwhile, if the calcium in the blood is high (hypercalcemia), excess calcium will be stored in the bones or excreted from the body through urine or feces.

Various causes of hypocalcemia, low levels of calcium in the blood

Hypocalcemia can be caused by a lack of calcium moving from the bones to the blood or because too much calcium is lost from the body through urine. Some of the reasons that can cause hypocalcemia are:

Hypoparathyroidism. Is a condition in which the levels of parathyroid hormone in the body are low. This can occur when the parathyroid gland is damaged during thyroid gland surgery. Hypoparathyroidism causes you to be unable to control the level of calcium in the blood because the body doesn't produce enough parathyroid hormone. Other conditions that are also associated with parathyroid hormone that causes low blood calcium levels are pseudohipoparathyroidism and DiGeorge syndrome.
Hypomagnesemia, where the level of magnesium in the blood is low. This results in reduced parathyroid hormone activity. As a result, disrupting calcium levels in the blood.
Malnutrition. It is a condition in which the body cannot absorb vitamins and minerals from the food you eat. This can be caused by diseases, such as celiac disease and pancreatitis. As a result, even though you have consumed a lot of food sources of calcium, the body cannot absorb calcium from food.
Low vitamin D levels. This can be caused by not consuming enough foods that contain vitamin D or not getting enough vitamin D from the sun.
High blood phosphate levels. This can be caused by kidney failure, use of laxatives, etc. Damage to kidney function can also cause more calcium to be excreted from the body through urine and make the kidneys less able to activate vitamin D.
Bone problems, such as osteomalacia and rickets, in which bones become weak and soft due to insufficient calcium and vitamin D intake. This makes the body unable to take calcium from the bones to increase the level of calcium in the blood.
Certain drugs, such as thyroid replacement drugs, rifampin, anticonvulsants, bisphosphonates, calcitonin, and corticosteroids.

Due to low calcium in the blood

The normal blood calcium level is 8.8-10.4 mg / dL, so you can be said to have a low blood calcium level if the blood calcium level is less than 8.8 mg / dL.

Low blood calcium levels for a long time can cause muscle cramps in the back and legs, muscle spasms, and tingling in the hands, feet, and face. Abnormal heartbeats and difficulty breathing can also occur when you have hypocalcemia.

In addition, hypocalcemia can also cause dry and scaly skin, brittle nails, and coarse hair. Low blood calcium levels can also affect the brain and cause confusion, memory loss, depression and hallucinations. These symptoms will disappear when the blood calcium levels are back to normal.