What Happens If a Person Has Too Much Calcium?

Mom always told you to drink all your milk if you want strong bones, but what if you drink too much? According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, hypercalcemia, high blood calcium levels, rarely stems from your diet or supplements.

Hyperparathyroidism

• Most cases of hypercalcemia are from one or more overactive parathyroid glands. These glands regulate calcium. This is most common in post-menopausal women.

Kidney

• Hypercalcemia impairs kidney function. When the kidney is not functioning properly, the excess of phosphorus and calcium can form hard deposits, called calcifications, which can occur in blood vessels and block blood flow. These deposits can cause lung disease, heart disease and painful joints. You can also develop kidney stones or kidney failure.

Absorption

• High levels of calcium can cause your body to not adequately absorb other essential minerals, such as zinc, magnesium and iron.

Other Risks

• Osteoporosis (a bone-thinning disease), dysfunction of your nervous system and arrhythmia can all be caused by severe hypercalcemia (abnormal heart rhythm), if left untreated.

Suggested Intake

• The Office of Dietary Supplements suggests healthy children and teenagers 9 to 18 years old consume 1,300 milligrams of calcium. Healthy adults 19 to 50 should have 1,000 milligrams of calcium. Adults over 50 should consume 1,200 milligrams. If you have other health problems, consult your physician on how much calcium you need.