Patient education: Hypercalcemia (The Basics)

What is hypercalcemia? — Hypercalcemia means having too much calcium in the blood.

Calcium is a mineral found in many foods and drinks. These include milk and other dairy products, green vegetables, and certain grains. Calcium helps keep bones and teeth strong. It is also important for the muscles, nerves, and heart to work normally.

In people with hypercalcemia, too much calcium builds up in their blood. This can cause problems.

What causes hypercalcemia? — There are lots of possible causes. They include:

●Hyperparathyroidism – This is a disorder of the parathyroid glands. These are found near the thyroid, which is a butterfly-shaped gland in the middle of the neck (figure 1). They make a hormone called "parathyroid hormone," or "PTH." PTH helps control the amount of calcium in the blood. In people with hyperparathyroidism, their parathyroid glands make too much PTH.

●Certain medicines

●Very high levels of vitamin D

●Some types of cancer

Other health problems can also cause high calcium levels. It is not common to get hypercalcemia just by eating a lot of foods with calcium.

What are the symptoms of hypercalcemia? — If your calcium level is only a little bit high, you might not notice any symptoms, especially if the level has increased gradually. But if your level is very high, or if it increases suddenly, it can cause symptoms.

Symptoms can include:

●Being very thirsty

●Urinating more than usual

●Bone pain

●Feeling tired or weak

●Loss of appetite

●Nausea

●Constipation

●Feeling depressed

●Trouble concentrating

●Kidney stones

Is there a test for hypercalcemia? — Yes. Your doctor or nurse can do a blood test to measure the level of calcium in your blood. Sometimes, people learn that they have hypercalcemia after a routine blood test.

Your doctor or nurse might do other blood or urine tests, too. This can help them figure out what is causing your calcium level to be high.

How is hypercalcemia treated? — Treatment involves:

●Correcting your calcium level, if needed – If your calcium level is very high or you have severe symptoms, you will need treatment in the hospital. This involves getting fluids and medicines by IV. (An IV is a thin tube that goes into a vein.)

●Treating the problem that caused your hypercalcemia – Treatment will depend on the health problem you have. For example, people with hyperparathyroidism usually need surgery to remove their parathyroid glands.

Can hypercalcemia be prevented? — It depends on what caused it. If your hypercalcemia was caused by a specific health problem, getting treatment for that problem can prevent your calcium level from getting too high again.

Your doctor might also suggest that you:

●Drink plenty of fluids.

●Stay physically active.

●Avoid taking certain medicines, including calcium or vitamin D supplements.

●Pay attention to how much calcium and vitamin D you are getting – Most people should continue to get some calcium and vitamin D through their diet, but avoid large amounts. Your doctor will tell you how much you can have.

When should I call the doctor? — Call your doctor or nurse for advice if you:

●Have any of the above symptoms of hypercalcemia again

●Have a lot of vomiting, or can't keep any fluids down

More on this topic

Patient education: Primary hyperparathyroidism (The Basics)
Patient education: Calcium blood test (The Basics)
Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health (The Basics)

Patient education: Primary hyperparathyroidism (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health (Beyond the Basics)