- What are the symptoms of high blood calcium?
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Frequent urination
- Excessive thirst
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain
- Muscle cramps
- Bone pain
- Fractures
- Arrhythmia
- What are the symptoms of low blood calcium?
- Muscle spasms
- Muscle cramps
- Numbness of hand, feet, or face
- Confusion
- Memory loss
- Depression
- Hallucinations
- seizures
- Easy fracturing of bones
- Which medicines may affect my test results?
- Calcium supplements
- Vitamin D supplements
- Lithium
- Calcium containing Antacids
- Thiazide diuretics
- How to prepare for this test?
Your doctor might recommend fasting overnight before the test. Inform your doctor about your complete medical and drug history. Wear a short-sleeved shirt to aid the collection of sample.
- What are the risks of this test?
Collecting blood from a vein is a very easy procedure and pose only minimum risk, including:
- Bruising
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Lightheadedness.
Normal range: 8.5-10.5 mg/dL
- Interpretation of test results:
Causes of high calcium levels:
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Certain type of cancers
- Tuberculosis
- Hyperthyroidism
- Kidney transplant
- Thiazide diuretics
- HIV/AIDS.
Causes of low calcium levels:
- Low albumin levels
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Decreased levels of vitamin D
- Poor-calcium diet
- Magnesium deficiency
- Renal failure
- Increased levels of phosphorus.
