Blood Disorders What Is Hypercalcemia? By Lynne Eldridge, MD Lynne Eldridge, MD Facebook Lynne Eldrige, MD, is a lung cancer physician, patient advocate, and award-winning author of "Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time." Learn about our editorial process Updated on July 15, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Doru Paul, MD Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD Doru Paul, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hematology. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Hypercalcemia, an elevated calcium level in the blood, is a serious situation. It can cause vague effects, such as a loss of appetite and fatigue. But if severe or acute, hypercalcemia can affect your muscles and heart rate. High blood calcium is not common, but it can develop due to medical illnesses like kidney failure or cancer. Your calcium level can be measured with a simple blood test, and excess calcium can be managed with procedures that lower calcium levels. TEK IMAGE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images Hypercalcemia Symptoms Many of the symptoms of hypercalcemia are ones that are characteristic of other conditions. Sudden elevations in calcium levels are generally more dangerous than chronic hypercalcemia. Additionally, mildly elevated calcium produces different effects than severely elevated calcium. Calcium is an essential mineral that helps your muscles contract. If you have excessive calcium, your muscles may twitch or cramp. Even more importantly, your heart muscle can be affected by excess calcium. Acute hypercalcemia can cause: Mild Cases Nausea Vomiting Loss of appetite Abdominal pain Constipation Fatigue Severe Cases Increased thirst Dehydration Decreased urination Muscle cramping, twitching, or weakness Irregular heart rate Symptoms of chronic hypercalcemia (usually mild) include: Muscle and joint pain Kidney stones It's especially important for those with kidney disease or cancer to be familiar with the symptoms of hypercalcemia. However, know that symptoms can be hard to recognize and the condition can strike without warning. Complications Severe hypercalcemia is a major risk to your health. The effects on your heart and nervous system can cause confusion, hallucinations, behavioral changes, and even coma or death. These issues are rare because the body is generally pretty good at rapidly adjusting variations in calcium concentration. But if you have an issue like kidney failure, your body might not be able to correct the problem. Causes There are several causes of high calcium, and the most common ones relate to bone breakdown, kidney problems, and thyroid concerns. Causes of hypercalcemia include: Blood cell cancers: Lymphoma and leukemia can both interfere with bone formation and break down bones, releasing excess calcium into the blood. Kidney failure: The kidneys are responsible for filtering your blood to get rid of excess materials, including calcium. Kidney failure can lead to excess calcium. Hyperparathyroidism: The four parathyroid glands, located adjacent to the thyroid gland in your neck, make parathyroid hormone (PTH). This hormone acts on the kidneys to prevent too much calcium from being excreted. High PTH results in hypercalcemia. You can develop high PTH due to a parathyroid overactivity or a parathyroid tumor. Metastatic cancer: Cancer that spreads to the bone (such as breast cancer and prostate cancer) causes the bone to break down, releasing calcium into the blood. Can Eating Too Much Dairy Cause Hypercalcemia? No—not if you are healthy, that is. Your thyroid gland makes a hormone, calcitonin, that keeps your blood calcium level from getting too high. Diagnosis Generally, hypercalcemia is detected based on a blood test. If you have hypercalcemia, there is certainly a medical cause for it. Your medical team may order some other tests to help identify what that is. Blood and Urine Tests You can expect that some if not all of these tests will be run as part of the diagnostic process: Complete blood count (CBC): This test can help identify changes that correspond to lymphoma or leukemia Serum electrolytes: You may have other electrolyte abnormalities, such as alterations in sodium, potassium, magnesium, or phosphorous (also regulated by PTH). This test can help your healthcare provider identify a parathyroid or kidney problem. Urine test: When kidney failure is considered, a urine test can help determine how well your kidneys are working. Parathyroid level: Your parathyroid hormone can be detected by a blood test. Imaging Tests Imaging may be required when select diagnoses are suspected. This may include: Kidney computerized tomography (CT) or ultrasound: If there is concern about your kidneys, you may need an imaging test to evaluate them. Parathyroid imaging test: If there is a concern about your parathyroid glands, you may need to have an imaging test that visualizes these glands. Bone scan: Because cancer can metastasize to the bone, a bone scan can help identify metastatic lesions. Biopsy A bone marrow biopsy can help your medical team with the diagnosis of lymphoma or leukemia. Even if you are diagnosed with hypercalcemia and don't have signs of heart irregularities, you will probably need an electrocardiogram (EKG) so your healthcare provider can monitor your heart rhythm before you develop any problems. You may also need to have your levels monitored on a regular basis to prevent the unwanted and dangerous effects of the condition. Treatment The treatment of hypercalcemia varies depending upon how elevated your calcium is, as well as the cause. Medical approaches used to decrease one's blood calcium level include medications and interventions. Management of the primary problem that caused hypercalcemia is an important part of your treatment as well. Strategies for treating hypercalcemia include: Staying hydrated, particularly if you have a condition that predisposes you to hypercalcemiaIntravenous (IV) fluids to dilute calcium in the blood, if necessary Medications used to treat hypercalcemia include: Bisphosphonates, which decrease bone breakdown Calcimar (calcitonin), a medication that can lower elevated calcium levels Gallium nitrate, used to treat cancer-related hypercalcemia Sensipar (cinacalcet), which lowers calcium in the blood Steroids: These drugs may be used in some situations, although steroids can also lower calcium in some instances. The cause of your hypercalcemia will dictate whether steroids are advised or not. If your hypercalcemia is very severe, you may need dialysis—a process by which your blood is filtered with a machine to eliminate waste material. A Word From Verywell Hypercalcemia is rare because the body generally does a good job of maintaining control of calcium concentration. However, illnesses can make it difficult for your body to keep up with excess amounts of the mineral. If you are prone to hypercalcemia, it is a good idea to meet with a dietitian, stay hydrated, and have your calcium level checked regularly. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 2 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Feldenzer KL, Sarno J.Hypercalcemia of Malignancy.J Adv Pract Oncol. 2018 Jul-Aug;9(5):496-504. Epub 2018 Jul 1. Merck Manuals. Hypercalcemia. Additional Reading Turner JJO.Hypercalcaemia - presentation and management .Clin Med (Lond). 2017 Jun;17(3):270-273. doi:10.7861/clinmedicine.17-3-270.