Hypercalcemia

What is Hypercalcemia?
Hypercalcemia means you have too much calcium in your blood. Calcium is a mineral your body needs for strong bones, healthy teeth, muscle movement, and nerve signals. But too much calcium can be dangerous.

Common Causes of Hypercalcemia

• Overactive parathyroid glands (small glands in your neck that control calcium levels)
  
  

• Certain cancers (like lung or breast cancer)
  
  

• Too much vitamin D from supplements or certain medicines
  
  

• Long-term use of calcium supplements
  
  

• Kidney problems that make it hard to remove calcium from the blood
  
  

• Being on bedrest for a long time, which can cause bones to release extra calcium
  
  

Common Symptoms

• Feeling very thirsty or peeing more often
  
  

• Upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, or constipation
  
  

• Feeling tired, weak, or confused
  
  

• Bone pain or muscle aches
  
  

• Loss of appetite
  
  

• In serious cases: irregular heartbeat or trouble thinking clearly
  
  

Risks of Having Hypercalcemia

• Kidney stones (hard lumps in the kidneys)
  
  

• Bone loss and fractures
  
  

• Heart rhythm problems
  
  

• Damage to kidneys over time
  
  

Treatment
Treatment depends on how high your calcium is and what caused it. It may include:

• IV fluids to help flush calcium out of the body
  
  

• Medicines to lower calcium levels
  
  

• Treating the cause (like surgery for overactive parathyroid glands or changing medicines)
  
  

• Stopping calcium or vitamin D supplements if they are causing the problem
  
  

Special Diet and Precautions

• Avoid extra calcium in food and supplements until your doctor says it’s okay
  
  

• Avoid extra vitamin D unless prescribed by your doctor
  
  

• Drink enough water to stay hydrated (unless told otherwise)
  
  

• Keep moving — even short walks can help keep bones healthy and prevent calcium from building up in the blood
  
  

• Follow up with your doctor for blood tests to check calcium levels
  
  

When to Call Your Home Health Nurse or Doctor

• If you feel weak, confused, very thirsty, or notice you are peeing much more than usual
  
  

• If you have nausea, vomiting, constipation, or bone pain that doesn’t go away
  
  

Go to the Emergency Room Immediately If You Have:

• Chest pain or irregular heartbeat
  
  

• Severe confusion or trouble staying awake
  
  

• Sudden muscle weakness that makes it hard to stand or move
  
  

© 2025 Judith Regan / K.N.O.W. – Knowledge for Nurturing Optimal Well-Being. All rights reserved. | Educational use only | Not a substitute for medical advice | In emergencies call 911

Patient Homework / Assessment

Write “True” or “False” before each number. PLEASE CORRECT ALL FALSE STATEMENTS

1. ___ Hypercalcemia means there is too much calcium in your blood.
   
   

2. ___ Calcium is only important for bones, not muscles or nerves.
   
   

3. ___ Overactive parathyroid glands can cause hypercalcemia.
   
   

4. ___ Drinking enough water can help prevent problems from hypercalcemia.
   
   

5. ___ Too much vitamin D can raise calcium levels in the blood.
   
   

6. ___ Feeling very thirsty and peeing a lot can be symptoms of hypercalcemia.
   
   

7. ___ Bedrest for a long time can cause extra calcium to move from bones into the blood.
   
   

8. ___ All cases of hypercalcemia are caused by eating too much cheese and milk.
   
   

9. ___ Kidney stones can be a complication of high calcium levels.
   
   

10. ___ Confusion and tiredness can be signs of hypercalcemia.
    
    

11. ___ Heart rhythm problems can happen if calcium levels are too high.
    
    

12. ___ Hypercalcemia is always treated by giving more calcium.
    
    

13. ___ Medicines and IV fluids can be used to lower calcium levels.
    
    

14. ___ You should stop taking calcium or vitamin D supplements if your doctor tells you to.
    
    

15. ___ Bone pain and muscle aches can happen with hypercalcemia.
    
    

16. ___ If you have chest pain or irregular heartbeat, you should go to the ER right away.
    
    

17. ___ Hypercalcemia can damage the kidneys over time.
    
    

18. ___ Staying active can help keep calcium in your bones and out of the blood.
    
    

19. ___ You should always tell your doctor about any vitamins or supplements you are taking.
    
    

20. ___ If you feel weak or confused, you should wait until your next regular appointment before telling anyone.
    
    

ASSESSMENT of WELL-BEING INDIVIDUALIZED PATIENT HOMEWORK

Symptom Identification:

1. Have you noticed symptoms like nausea, vomiting, constipation, increased thirst or urination, or muscle weakness that could be signs of high calcium in your blood?
   
   

Activity Impact / Safety:
2. Are you feeling too weak, confused, or tired to safely do your normal daily activities?

Treatment Adherence:
3. Have you been able to follow your treatment plan, such as taking medicines as prescribed and staying hydrated as recommended by your doctor?

Preventive Measures:
4. What steps are you taking to prevent calcium levels from rising, such as avoiding high-calcium supplements unless prescribed and following your doctor’s dietary guidance?

Additional Information (labs):
5. Do you know when your next blood tests are scheduled to check calcium levels and why it is important to keep those appointments?

© 2025 Judith Regan / K.N.O.W. – Knowledge for Nurturing Optimal Well-Being. All rights reserved. | Educational use only | Not a substitute for medical advice | In emergencies call 911