What causes high calcium levels in the body?

What causes high calcium levels in the body? Here’s a few causes, but if you are worried, it is best to consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

Parathyroid disease

High calcium levels in the blood (hypercalcaemia) are normally always down to parathyroid disease, otherwise known as hyperparathyroidism. It is a very dangerous condition, and a test should be taken as soon as possible to assess the reasons why it has occurred.

Most cases of high calcium levels in the blood are down to a small tumour on one of your parathyroid glands causing a disease called hyperparathyroidism. Parathyroid glands are small glands of the endocrine system which are located in the neck behind the thyroid. Parathyroid glands control the calcium in our bodies–how much calcium is in our bones, and how much calcium is in our blood.

When a tumour grows, the growth interrupts the regulation of the hormone that controls the levels of calcium in our bodies. Therefore, excessive amounts of calcium is produced.

The tumour on the parathyroid glands is almost always benign – however must always be removed. The operation is normally very simple and quick and takes around twenty to thirty minutes.

Cancer

In very small cases, hypercalcaemia is one of the symptoms of cancer – often a tumour on the kidneys. However, in almost all instances, high calcium levels are down to the rather less serious parathyroid disease.

Sarcoidosis

In another rare case, high blood calcium levels could be down to sarcoidosis. This is a disease where the immune system is over activated for reasons unknown. This is a condition which barely gets noticed until a scan or x-ray is done for another reason. Symptoms include shortness of breath and a cough. Often sarcoidosis just goes on its own accord. Other times, the patient is offered a course of steroids.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is extremely effective in its ability to allow the body to absorb calcium. However, too much can also have a dangerous effect on the body. When the vitamin tells the kidneys to not let any calcium escape into the urine, the calcium rates in the body shoot up.