Osteoporosis, which means fragile bones, is a progressive condition in which bones become structurally weak and are more likely to fracture or break. Usually people do not have any symptoms to know about this condition and they presents with fragility fracture.
Bone is a live tissue and has its own turnover, it means that the body forms enough new bone tissue to balance the amount of bone tissue broken down and absorbed by the body.
Throughout the early part of the life, the amount of bone lost and the amount of bone gained remain balanced. Bone mass increases during childhood and early adult life, reaching its maximum by the age of 20 to 25. After mid-life, more bone is broken down than is formed, and bone mass slowly declines. Menopause, in women significantly speeds bone loss. Older men also lose bone mass faster as they age. Eventually osteoporosis can develop and fractures occur more easily.
There are different treatment options available for treatment of osteoporosis and prevention of fragility fracture. Please talk to your doctor for appropriate screening and bone density measurement.
Hypercalcemia is defined by calcium level above normal in blood. It is measured by a simple blood test.
Calcium is a mineral found mostly in bones, where it builds and maintains bone strength. A small amount of calcium is also found in muscle and blood cells, where it plays several important roles:
Helps muscles contract
Helps nerves and the brain work properly
Helps regulate the heart rhythm and blood pressure
High calcium usually does not cause any symptoms. But overtime may cause osteoporosis and kidney stones.
Very high calcium can be dangerous and causing more severe problems including:
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and vitamin D, along with other hormones and minerals, help move calcium in or out of body tissues to keep blood calcium at a normal level. PTH is secreted form parathyroid glands, which are usually four small glands in neck area behind the thyroid gland. PTH helps the bones to release the calcium into the blood. Vitamin D helps the absorption of calcium from the intestine to bloodstream.
What are the causes of high blood calcium?
Hypercalcemia is important medical condition and as it is mentioned above can be due to very different reasons, so it needs a detail and stepwise evaluation for accurate diagnosis and treatment. Mild hypercalcemia may not cause any symptoms but overtime may lead to osteoporosis and/or kidney stones.
Bone is a live tissue and has its own turnover, it means that the body forms enough new bone tissue to balance the amount of bone tissue broken down and absorbed by the body.
Throughout the early part of the life, the amount of bone lost and the amount of bone gained remain balanced. Bone mass increases during childhood and early adult life, reaching its maximum by the age of 20 to 25. After mid-life, more bone is broken down than is formed, and bone mass slowly declines. Menopause, in women significantly speeds bone loss. Older men also lose bone mass faster as they age. Eventually osteoporosis can develop and fractures occur more easily.
There are different treatment options available for treatment of osteoporosis and prevention of fragility fracture. Please talk to your doctor for appropriate screening and bone density measurement.
Hypercalcemia is defined by calcium level above normal in blood. It is measured by a simple blood test.
Calcium is a mineral found mostly in bones, where it builds and maintains bone strength. A small amount of calcium is also found in muscle and blood cells, where it plays several important roles:
Helps muscles contract
Helps nerves and the brain work properly
Helps regulate the heart rhythm and blood pressure
High calcium usually does not cause any symptoms. But overtime may cause osteoporosis and kidney stones.
Very high calcium can be dangerous and causing more severe problems including:
- Muscle weakness
- Fatigue
- Constipation
- Nausea
- kidney failure
- abnormal heart rhythm
- Mood changes
- mental confusion
- coma
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and vitamin D, along with other hormones and minerals, help move calcium in or out of body tissues to keep blood calcium at a normal level. PTH is secreted form parathyroid glands, which are usually four small glands in neck area behind the thyroid gland. PTH helps the bones to release the calcium into the blood. Vitamin D helps the absorption of calcium from the intestine to bloodstream.
What are the causes of high blood calcium?
- Primary hyperparathyroidism
- Certain types of cancer
- Some types of infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis (TB)
- Some types of autoimmune disease, such as sarcoidosis
- Hormone disorders, for example hyperthyroidism
- familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia
- Kidney failure
- Some medications
- Intake of very large amounts of calcium or large amounts of milk plus antacids
- Intake of too much vitamin D or vitamin A
- Immobility
- Some bone diseases, such as Paget’s disease
- Tube feeding or being fed through a vein
- Severe dehydration
Hypercalcemia is important medical condition and as it is mentioned above can be due to very different reasons, so it needs a detail and stepwise evaluation for accurate diagnosis and treatment. Mild hypercalcemia may not cause any symptoms but overtime may lead to osteoporosis and/or kidney stones.