Hypercalcemia
What is Hypercalcemia?
Hypercalcemia is a condition where your blood contains too much calcium. Calcium is a mineral your body needs for strong bones, muscle function, and nerve signaling. But when calcium levels rise too high, it can disrupt normal body functions.
Your body tightly controls calcium levels through a balance of hormones and vitamins. When this balance breaks down, calcium can build up in your bloodstream. Mild hypercalcemia may cause no symptoms at first. Severe cases can affect your kidneys, bones, heart, and brain.
Many people discover they have hypercalcemia through routine blood work before they notice any symptoms. Early detection through testing helps you address the root cause before complications develop. Understanding your calcium levels is a key part of proactive health.
Symptoms
- Excessive thirst and frequent urination
- Fatigue and weakness
- Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite
- Constipation
- Confusion, difficulty concentrating, or memory problems
- Muscle weakness and bone pain
- Abdominal pain
- Irregular heartbeat
- Kidney stones
Many people with mild hypercalcemia have no symptoms at all. Symptoms often develop slowly over time. This makes regular blood testing important for catching elevated calcium early.
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Causes and risk factors
Overactive parathyroid glands are the most common cause of hypercalcemia. These small glands in your neck produce parathyroid hormone, which controls calcium levels. When they produce too much hormone, calcium rises in your blood. Certain cancers can also cause hypercalcemia by releasing substances that raise calcium or by spreading to bones. Lung cancer, breast cancer, and blood cancers are common culprits.
Other causes include taking too much vitamin D or calcium supplements, certain medications like lithium or thiazide diuretics, prolonged immobility, and severe dehydration. Genetic conditions and thyroid problems can also play a role. Older adults and people with a family history of parathyroid problems face higher risk. Understanding the root cause helps guide the right treatment approach.
How it's diagnosed
Hypercalcemia is diagnosed through blood tests that measure calcium levels in your bloodstream. A standard calcium test shows total calcium, while an ionized calcium test measures the active form your body can use immediately. Additional tests for parathyroid hormone and vitamin D help identify why your calcium is elevated. RBC calcium testing can provide insight into cellular calcium levels.
Rite Aid makes it easy to test your calcium levels along with 200 other biomarkers. Our testing service uses Quest Diagnostics locations nationwide. You can monitor your calcium regularly to catch changes early and work with your doctor on the underlying cause. Testing twice a year helps you stay on top of your calcium balance.
Treatment options
- Increase fluid intake to help kidneys flush excess calcium
- Reduce calcium and vitamin D supplement intake if advised by your doctor
- Stay physically active to maintain bone strength
- Treat the underlying condition causing high calcium
- Medications like bisphosphonates to prevent bone calcium release
- Calcimimetics to help parathyroid glands produce less hormone
- Diuretics to help kidneys remove excess calcium
- Surgery to remove overactive parathyroid glands when needed
- Dialysis in severe cases to quickly lower calcium levels
Concerned about Hypercalcemia? Get tested at Rite Aid.
- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
Normal blood calcium levels range from 8.5 to 10.2 milligrams per deciliter. Hypercalcemia is diagnosed when levels exceed 10.5 mg/dL. Mild cases range from 10.5 to 11.9 mg/dL, while levels above 12 mg/dL are considered moderate to severe. Severe hypercalcemia above 14 mg/dL requires immediate medical attention.
Hypercalcemia rarely resolves without addressing the underlying cause. Mild cases caused by dehydration or temporary medication use may improve when those factors are corrected. However, conditions like overactive parathyroid glands require medical treatment. Regular monitoring through blood tests helps track whether your calcium levels are improving or worsening.
Yes, hypercalcemia can be serious if left untreated. Mild cases may cause no symptoms but can still damage kidneys and bones over time. Severe hypercalcemia can lead to kidney failure, irregular heart rhythms, confusion, and coma. Early detection through blood testing allows you to address the condition before complications develop.
Limit dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt if you have hypercalcemia. Reduce foods fortified with calcium such as orange juice and cereals. Avoid calcium supplements unless your doctor specifically recommends them. Also limit vitamin D supplements, as vitamin D increases calcium absorption. Focus on staying well hydrated with water.
If you have hypercalcemia, test your calcium levels every 3 to 6 months or as your doctor recommends. People with parathyroid problems or cancer may need more frequent testing. Rite Aid offers testing twice a year as part of our subscription service. Regular monitoring helps you and your doctor see if treatment is working.
Yes, taking too much vitamin D can cause hypercalcemia. Vitamin D helps your intestines absorb calcium from food. When vitamin D levels get too high, you absorb excessive calcium. This is most common with high-dose supplements, not from sunlight or food. Testing both calcium and vitamin D levels helps identify if supplements are the cause.
Untreated hypercalcemia can lead to kidney stones and chronic kidney disease. Excess calcium can deposit in kidneys and damage tissue over time. Bones can become weak and brittle as calcium leaves bone tissue. Heart rhythm problems may develop. Cognitive issues like memory problems and confusion can worsen. Early treatment prevents these complications.
Yes, cancer is one cause of hypercalcemia. Some tumors release substances that raise blood calcium levels. Other cancers spread to bones and cause calcium release into the bloodstream. Lung cancer, breast cancer, kidney cancer, and multiple myeloma are commonly associated with high calcium. However, most hypercalcemia cases are caused by overactive parathyroid glands, not cancer.
Stress does not directly cause hypercalcemia. However, stress can worsen dehydration, which may temporarily elevate calcium readings. Stress also does not affect parathyroid glands or other underlying causes of true hypercalcemia. If your calcium levels are consistently high, physical causes like parathyroid problems or vitamin D excess are more likely culprits than stress.
Total calcium measures all calcium in your blood, including calcium bound to proteins. Ionized calcium measures only the free, active calcium your body can use immediately. Ionized calcium is more accurate because protein levels can affect total calcium readings. Both tests help doctors understand your calcium status. Rite Aid testing includes both measures for a complete picture of your calcium balance.