Excess calcium in the blood. See appropriate Calcium programs, and Calcifications.Encyclopedia Entry for Hypercalcemia :Hypercalcemia - discharge. Your body needs calcium so that you can use your muscles. Calcium also keeps your bones and teeth strong and your heart healthy. Your blood calcium level may get too high due to: Certain kinds of cancers Problems with certain glands Too much vitamin D in your system Being on bed rest for a long time When you were in the hospital, you were given fluids through an IV and drugs to help lower the calcium level in your blood. If you have cancer, you may have had treatment for that, as well. If your hypercalcemia is caused by a gland problem, you may have had surgery to remove that gland.After you go home, follow your provider's instructions about making sure your calcium level does not get high again. You may need to drink a lot of liquids. Make sure you drink as much water every day as your provider recommends. Keep water next to your bed at night and drink some when you get up to use the bathroom. DO NOT cut back on how much salt you eat. Your provider may ask you to limit foods with a lot of calcium , or not to eat them at all for a while. Eat fewer dairy foods (such as cheese, milk, yogurt, ice cream) or don't eat them at all. If your provider says you can eat dairy foods, don't eat those that have extra calcium added. Read the labels carefully. To further keep your calcium level from getting high again: Don't use antacids that have a lot of calcium in them. Look for antacids that have magnesium. Ask your provider which ones are OK. Ask your doctor what medicines and herbs are safe for you to take. If your doctor prescribes medicines to help keep your calcium level from getting too high again, take them the way you're told to. Call your doctor if you have any side effects. Stay active when you get home. Your provider will tell you how much activity and exercise are OK. You will probably need to get blood tests after you go home. Keep any follow-up appointments you make with your provider.Call your doctor if you have any of these symptoms: Headaches Irregular heartbeats Nausea and vomiting Increased thirst or dry mouth Little or no sweating Dizziness Confusion Blood in the urine Dark urine Pain on one side of your back Abdominal pain Severe constipation.Hypercalcemia; Transplant - hypercalcemia; Transplantation - hypercalcemia; Cancer treatment - hypercalcemia.Smogorzewski MJ, Stubbs JR, Yu ASL. Disorders of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate.Encyclopedia Entry for Hypercalcemia :Hypercalcemia. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and Vitamin D help manage calcium balance in the body. PTH is made by the parathyroid glands. These are four small glands located in the neck behind the thyroid gland. Vitamin D is obtained when the skin is exposed to sunlight, and from food sources or supplements. The most common cause of high calcium blood level is excess PTH released by the parathyroid glands. This excess occurs due to: An enlargement of one or more of the parathyroid glands. A growth on one of the glands. Most of the time, these growths are benign (not a cancer). Calcium blood level may also be high if your body is low on fluids or water. Other conditions can also cause hypercalcemia: Certain kinds of cancers, such as lung and breast cancer, or cancer that has spread to your organs. Too much vitamin D in your blood (hypervitaminosis D). Being immobile in bed for many days or weeks (mostly in children). Too much calcium in your diet. This is called milk-alkali syndrome. It most often occurs when a person is taking more than 2000 milligrams of calcium bicarbonate supplements a day along with high doses of Vitamin D. Overactive thyroid gland. Chronic kidney disease or kidney failure. Medicines such as lithium and thiazide diuretics (water pills). Some infections or health problems such as, Paget's disease, tuberculosis and sarcoidosis. An inherited condition that affects the body's ability to manage calcium. Men and women of all ages can have a high blood calcium level. However, it is most common in women over age 50 (after menopause). In most cases, this is due to an overactive parathyroid gland.The condition is most often diagnosed at an early stage using routine blood tests. Most people have no symptoms. Symptoms due to high calcium level may vary, depending on the cause and how long the problem has been present. They may include: Digestive symptoms, such as nausea or vomiting, poor appetite, or constipation Increased thirst or more frequent urination, due to changes in the kidneys Muscle weakness or twitches Changes in how your brain works, such as feeling tired or fatigued or confused Bone pain and fragile bones that break more easily.An accurate diagnosis is needed in hypercalcemia. People with kidney stones should have tests to evaluate for hypercalcemia. Serum calcium Serum PTH Serum PTHrP (PTH-related protein) Serum vitamin D level Urine calcium.Treatment is aimed at the cause of hypercalcemia whenever possible. People with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) may need surgery to remove the abnormal parathyroid gland. This will cure the hypercalcemia. People with mild hypercalcemia may be able to monitor the condition closely over time without treatment. In women who are in menopause, treatment with estrogen can sometimes reverse mild hypercalcemia. Severe hypercalcemia that causes symptoms and requires a hospital stay may be treated with the following: Fluids through a vein -- This is the most important therapy. Calcitonin. Dialysis, if kidney damage is involved. Diuretic medicine, such as furosemide. Drugs that stop bone breakdown and absorption by the body (bisphosphonates). Glucocorticoids (steroids).How well you do depends on the cause of your high calcium level. The outlook is good for people with mild hyperparathyroidism or hypercalcemia that have a treatable cause. Most of the time, there are no complications. People with hypercalcemia due to conditions such as cancer or sarcoidosis may not do well. This is most often due to the disease itself, rather than the high calcium level.GASTROINTESTINAL Pancreatitis Peptic ulcer disease KIDNEY Calcium deposits in the kidney ( nephrocalcinosis ) that cause poor kidney function Dehydration High blood pressure Kidney failure Kidney stones PSYCHOLOGICAL Depression Difficulty concentrating or thinking SKELETAL Bone cysts Fractures Osteoporosis These complications of long-term hypercalcemia are uncommon today in many countries.Contact your health care provider if you have: Family history of hypercalcemia Family history of hyperparathyroidism Symptoms of hypercalcemia.Most causes of hypercalcemia cannot be prevented. Women over age 50 should see their provider regularly and have their blood calcium level checked if they have symptoms of hypercalcemia. Talk to your provider about the correct dose if you are taking calcium and vitamin D supplements.Calcium - elevated; High calcium level; Hyperparathyroidism - hypercalcemia.Hypercalcemia - discharge.Endocrine glands Endocrine glands.Aronson JK. Vitamin D analogues.