Deficiency of calcium, also known Hypocalcemia, may not show any symptom in its early stages. In most cases, it’s usually mild. But without proper treatment, it can aggravate and become life threatening.
In this article, you will find what are calcium deficiency symptoms and what causes deficiency of calcium & how to know if you have calcium deficiency.
What Are the Symptoms of Calcium Deficiency (Hypocalcemia)?
Calcium is important for several body functions. Thus its deficiency can have many adverse effects, including on your bones, muscles and teeth, as well as your mental health.
If the deficiency is due to low dietary calcium intake, you may not develop any early symptoms. If left untreated, calcium deficiency can lead to osteopenia – low bone density. In the long term, this can cause osteoporosis, or brittle bones.
During the early stages of calcium deficiency, an individual may not notice any symptom. However, symptoms will start appearing over time as the condition progress. The symptoms can vary from person to person, and also depends on the age and severity of the deficiency.
# 1
Muscle Problems
People with low levels of calcium may experience:
- Early signs of cramps, muscle spasms, and aches.
- Pain in arms & thighs when walking or moving
- Numbness and tingling in the legs, feet, hands, arms, or around the mouth
- Unfortunately, most people don’t know that these can occur because of the calcium deficiency.
The above symptoms may come and go and they do not tend to disappear with activity.
# 2
Extreme Fatigue
Low levels of calcium in the blood can cause lack of energy, lethargy, feeling of sluggishness, extreme fatigue, sleepiness and insomnia. Many people experience dizziness, lightheadedness, brain fog – characterized by a lack of focus, confusion and forgetfulness.
# 3
Skin & Nail Symptoms
Chronic or prolonged low calcium levels often cause skin and nail symptoms:
- dry & itchy skin
- dry, broken, weak or brittle nails
- coarse hair or slower hair growth
- alopecia, which causes hair to fall out in round patches
- skin inflammation or eczema can lead to dry or itchy patches
- psoriasis
# 4
Osteopenia & Osteoporosis
Calcium makes the bones strong, but they need adequate levels to stay strong. When overall levels of calcium become low, the body diverts some of the calcium from your bones, which results in low mineral density of bones..
Over time, having low level of calcium can lead to osteopenia, making the bones brittle and thinner. This can lead to osteoporosis, which makes the bones vulnerable to fractures, as well as problems with posture pain.
However, it can take years for osteoporosis and other complications of a calcium deficiency to develop.
# 5
Painful Premenstrual Syndrome
Studies have shown low levels of vitamin D and calcium can contribute to severity of Premenstrual Syndrome. The researchers suggested that calcium supplements may help relieve the PMS symptoms.
# 6
Dental Problems
Calcium is essential for keeping our bones and teeth healthy. When your body lacks calcium, it begins drawing it from internal sources such as your teeth. The declining calcium levels in your teeth can lead to dental problems like:
- brittle teeth
- weak tooth roots
- irritated gums
- tooth decay
Also, low levels of calcium in an infant can mar tooth development and delay tooth formation.
# 7
Depression
Low calcium levels are claimed to be connected with to mood disorders, including depression. However, evidence to confirm this is still not conclusive.
Other Symptoms
In addition to the above common symptoms, people also experience other signs. Though they are not definitely connected with calcium deficiency, but are the initial warning signs of low calcium levels in the blood – so should not be ignored. Some of these unusual signs include:
- Wheezing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Seizures
- Chronic itching
- Cataracts
- Chest pains
- Voice changes
Lastly, But Not The Least
Calcium also plays a crucial role in both neurotransmitter release as well as muscle contractions. So, calcium deficiencies can cause seizures, even in otherwise healthy people.
If you start experiencing neurological symptoms such as memory loss, numbness and tingling, seizures or hallucinations, check with your doctor as soon as possible.
You may like to watch this useful VIDEO:
About Author: Renu Bakshi, AKA Fitness Buffhq, is ISSA Certified Elite Trainer. He passed 
Personal Fitness Trainer Course, Nutrition Health Coach course & Specialist Exercise Therapy course from ISSA, USA obtaining + 97% marks. He shares his experience and knowledge about nutrition and effective workouts to get you in the best shape of your life, no matter how old you may be. The author says: “For me age is just a number!”
