What Are the Effects of Hypocalcemia?

Hypocalcemia is a medical condition that occurs when there is not enough calcium in your bloodstream. It can have a number of causes, including parathyroid problems, Vitamin D deficiency, kidney dysfunction or pancreatic inflammation. Hypocalcemia can have a variety of effects on your body.

Features

• Mild cases of hypocalcemia often cause no symptoms, explains the Merck Medical Manual. In most cases, you must suffer from low blood calcium for a prolonged period of time before experiencing any adverse effects.

Symptoms

• Hypocalcemia has the potential to cause a number of symptoms that, while unpleasant, do not pose any serious health risks. These effects include dry skin; changes in or darkening of skin color; rashes; tingling in your fingers or toes; and muscle pains, stiffness or spasms.

Risks

• Hypocalcemia also poses a risk for a number of serious health effects, including congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, seizures, tetany (muscle rigidity), dementia, severe depression, involuntary facial movements and cataracts, warns the Cleveland Clinic. If left untreated, hypocalcemia is life-threatening.

Duration of effects

• In most cases, even severe effects of hypocalcemia improve once calcium levels return to normal. For some effects like congestive heart failure, it is possible to experience lifelong symptoms from hypocalcemia.

Considerations

• Shortages of potassium or magnesium, and emotional stress often worsen the effects of hypocalcemia, warns the Merck Medical Manual.