Patients who are on bed rest can have elevated levels of calcium in the blood. They must manage vitamin D and calcium intake to ensure hypercalcemia is managed. Tuberculosis or sarcoidosis patients may experience excessive levels of calcium in the blood due to excessive extra-renal 1-alpha hydroxylase activity. Lung diseases like sarcoidosis or tuberculosis.An individual unaware of their calcium intake may take too much and cause damage. This can come in a variety of forms either through drink, food or supplements. After those ages, they should up their intake to 1,200mg of calcium. According to the Cleveland Clinic, women under the age of 50 and men under the age of 70 should aim to ingest 1000mg of calcium per day. When an individual takes calcium supplements or ingests a large amount of calcium over a period of time, their body may experience high calcium levels that can be classified as hypercalcemia. Vitamin D toxicity can be triggered by lymphoma, tumors, T-cell leukemia or other severe illnesses. Too much vitamin D in the system can cause the bones and intestinal tract to reabsorb calcium, leading to a deficiency. This very rare sporadic disorder often causes dysmorphic facial features, heart abnormalities and hypercalcemia. Breast cancer, ovarian cancer or renal cancer are some of the more common types of cancer that can cause hypercalcemia. In many instances, patients hospitalized for cancer can develop hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia is just one of the byproducts of this endocrine issue and can also be linked to other thyroid disorders. Primary hyperparathyroidism is one of the main causes of hypercalcemia and can be caused by issues within the endocrine system such as autoimmune disorders. When parathyroid glands get triggered, they secrete hormones that regulate everything from sleep to digestion to sex drive. It’s the most common cause of hypercalcemia. Hyperparathyroidism is a generalized disorder that happens when the thyroid glands secrete too much parathyroid hormone. Hypercalcemia and hyperparathyroidism often go hand in hand, meaning that a patient wouldn’t be able to solve hypercalcemia without first treating HPT. Hyperparathyroidism and Causes of Hypercalcemia An imbalance in blood calcium levels, whether they are too low or too high, can throw off the heart rate, nervous system, wound healing and more. Without it, our bones can grow weak, our metabolisms can slow and many other systems can fail to function at peak performance. Calcium plays a vital role in supporting bodily functions. It relies on vitamins, minerals, calories, hormones and more to keep our hearts pumping, our digestive tract running and even our circadian rhythm in a specific cycle. Our entire physical system functions because of a precise balancing act. The condition affects all areas of the body, however, in mild cases, some areas – like the brain – are less affected, if at all. Many cases of hypercalcemia are caused by hyperparathyroidism (HPT) or malignancy. Hypercalcemia is a common clinical condition that can lead to chronic, moderate or mild levels of calcium in the blood. If you are a new patient, save time by printing your paperwork and bring it to your appointment.

Hypercalcemia causes usmle mynotes