What does high calcium in your blood mean?

Question

What does high calcium in your blood mean?

Answer 1

Nothing. As long as it is not that high and doesn't cause you any trouble. How high are we talking here?

Answer 2

The most common cause for elevated calcium levels in a routine test report is sampling error. Then there's the difference between high total calcium and high ionized calcium, the latter being the clinically important one, but the former being the one normally tested. In those in whom there really is hypercalcemia, prolonged bedrest and various types of parathyroid abnormalities have to be investigated, but in most circumstances, it turns out that a second blood sample and repeat/additional testing obviates the need to worry.

Answer 3

If someone is reasonably well, the most common cause for high calcium is overactive parathyroid glands. These are in your neck and their job is to help control calcium in the blood (and they are not the same as the thyroid gland!). There are a lot of other causes of high calcium, but the parathyroids are usually the first thing a doctor will check. The symptoms you can get with high calcium are thirst, passing a lot of urine, tiredness, generally feeling rough. But it depends how high the calcium is - if it is only slightly high the person might not have any symptoms.