What does calcium do?
Calcium is very important for the health of your teeth and bones. 99% of the calcium in your body is stored in your teeth and bones. Calcium also helps the heart, brain, nerves, and muscles, and helps blood clot among other things.
What happens if my calcium is low/if I don't get enough calcium?
Most people are not aware of how they feel when they don't have enough calcium. Calcium is so important for keeping your heart beating and your brain going that when we don't have enough in our diets, the body takes it from our bones. This is just like taking money out of the ATM without checking your account balance - you may not know until it is gone. For this reason, sometimes the very first symptom of calcium deficiency is an unexpected fracture or loss of a tooth.
If calcium deficiency is very severe or acute there can be muscle spasm or cramping, tingling, or burning sensation around the mouth and fingers, facial spasms and tics, seizures, and tremors.
The loss of calcium from bone is called osteopenia when it is mild and osteoporosis when it is severe. If calcium deficiency continues over a long time you can have permanent loss of bone that can result in fragility, broken bones, loss of mobility and more.
What are other symptoms?
Some other symptoms of calcium deficiency include:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Faintness
- Anxiety, irritability
- Low blood pressure
- Intestinal cramping
- Hip pain
- Spinal pain
- Compression fracture
- Loss of height
- Spasms of the lungs
- Brittle nails and hair
Where can I get calcium?
The very best sources of calcium in food are dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cheese. There is also calcium in fortified soy and rice drinks, fortified juice, and fish where you eat the bones (like sardines). While some vegetables like leafy greens have calcium in them, this form of calcium is not well absorbed by people. Calcium is also found in dietary supplements as liquids, powders, tablets, capsules, and soft chews. If you do not get enough calcium in your diet or your calcium is low, your doctor will probably ask you to take calcium supplements as well as to watch calcium in your diet. If you have had weight loss surgery, you may be asked to take a specific form of calcium like calcium citrate which is better absorbed.
Other important things
Because you can't usually feel calcium deficiency, many people do not know when they are not getting enough. Your doctor may ask you to have a bone density test to look at how much calcium you have in bone, or ask specific questions about your diet to learn how much calcium you typically eat. If you have low calcium or loss of bone, it is important that you follow up with your doctor for lab tests and other recommended care.
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