Are You Taking Too Many Calcium Supplements? – Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

You eat your yogurt, exercise daily and chew that calcium supplement like a champ. Osteoporosis doesnt stand a chance youre a calcium superstar!

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But, when it comes to calcium, its actually possible to have too much of a good thing: Calcium can build up to unhealthy levels in the bloodstream. And this hypercalcemia can cause a variety of problems ranging from not great to very serious.

Dont toss your calcium supplements just yet, though. Endocrinologist Susan Williams, MD, explains what happens when calcium levels creep too high and how to strike a healthy balance.

Calcium is key to a sturdy skeleton. Calcium is so important for the bones and teeth of growing children, but as adults, we sometimes forget how important it is throughout our lifetime, Dr. Williams says.

Besides beefing up bones, calcium is critical for the healthy function of nerves and muscles, including the heart.

Guidelines recommend a total of 1,000 milligrams per day for women until age 50 and for men until age 70.

Past those birthdays, men and women should aim for 1,200 mg per day. (For context, a cup of milk or a serving of yogurt each has about 300 mg of calcium.)

More is not better, however. Problems linked to excess calcium include:

Soaring calcium levels can be triggered by a variety of diseases,including parathyroid problems and a number of cancers. Hypercalcemia can alsobe a side effect of certain prescription meds.

But over-the-counter calcium medications can push you over the edge, too. Its surprisingly easy to overdo the calcium supplements especially if you consume a lot of dairy or otherwise get plenty from your food. Over-the-counter antacid chews and tablets pack a big calcium punch as well.

On top of all that, high doses of vitamins A and D can also cause calcium levels to rise.

Many people dont have obvious symptoms of hypercalcemia. But thesesigns hint that your calcium levels might be flying high:

Luckily, hypercalcemia caused by supplements and antacids usuallyreverses quickly when you stop taking them, Dr. Williams says. Untreated,though, long-term hypercalcemia can be serious maybe even life-threatening.

How can you make sure youre getting enough calcium withoutgoing overboard?

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Are You Taking Too Many Calcium Supplements? - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic