Too low amounts of calcium in the blood, also called hypocalcemia. Elderly people may be at risk for a calcium deficiency due to drugs they take, together with some disorders for which they may be at risk, like kidney disease, liver disease, or alcoholism. Light hypocalcemia may mimic the symptoms of early Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Patients may also experience muscle pains and cramping. Seriously ill patients who are in the intensive care unit of a hospital are also at risk for growing hypocalcemia, as are people that have had thyroid operation because of damage which could have happened to the parathyroid glands embedded in the thyroid.
Should the doctor guess hypocalcemia, blood tests can confirm whether the calcium levels are within the standard range or not. If they’re not, the cause is treated. The patient may also be required to take supplemental calcium and appointed Vitamin D. Periodic retesting is suggested to make sure the patient’s calcium levels don’t become excessively high, or hypercalcemic.
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