Calcium is an essential mineral that is present in large quantities in our body. It is mostly found in bones and teeth, approximately 99 percent of calcium in the body, which gives them the necessary strength. But it is also necessary for the proper function of muscles, nerves and blood vessels, so the remaining one percent is found in blood, muscles and other body tissues.
Calcium is transported through the bloodstream, and it is present in every cell, so calcification, or calcium deposition, can occur in almost any part of the body. When it settles in soft tissues, where it shouldn't, we are talking about calcification, and it causes hardening of those tissues, which can affect their proper function and cause various problems.
What is calcification?
Calcification is the deposition of calcium in some part of the body, and such deposits can form anywhere, including soft tissues, blood vessels and organs. Calcifications are usually not painful, except when they develop in places where they can put pressure or interfere with movement, such as joints and tendons.
To a certain degree, calcification is a normal phenomenon because it can, for example, be the body's reaction to an injury or inflammation, to infection or autoimmune diseases. Even tumors, cancerous and non-cancerous, can result in calcification within the tumor tissue. But, in some cases and in certain conditions, calcium can be deposited in places where it should not be, for example in the brain, kidneys or blood vessels, so such calcifications can cause problems in the work of these organs, he writes. Gloria..
In any case, calcifications become a problem when their position, shape and size begin to damage tissue. For example, calcifications can make blood vessels stiff and blocked - whether in the brain, heart or kidneys. In old age, thickening and calcification can occur on the aortic and mitral valves, and this leads to a reduced ability of the heart to pump blood.
Accumulated calcium can develop throughout the body, and among the areas where it occurs more often are the breasts, muscles, blood vessels, pericardium or heart tissue, heart valves, kidneys, bladder and gall, joints, tendons, brain, teeth and pancreas.
Types of calcifications and causes
A number of factors play a role in the formation of calcifications, some of which are infections, disorders of calcium metabolism that can lead to hypercalcemia (excessive amounts of calcium in the blood), genetic or autoimmune diseases that affect the bone system and connective tissues, as well as a long-term state of inflammation.
Experts from Harvard University warn that there is still a widespread prejudice that calcifications are caused by a diet rich in calcium, but no study has yet revealed a connection between the calcium we eat and an increased risk of calcifications. This also applies to kidney stones that are made of calcium oxalate. People with such stones excrete more calcium in their urine than those without kidney stones, and this happens regardless of how much calcium they take into the body through food.
Symptoms of calcification
Calcifications often do not cause any symptoms, so doctors discover them accidentally, for example on X-rays or mammography. Computed tomography or CT can reveal calcifications in internal organs, for example in the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, brain or pancreas. Sometimes the presence of calcifications can be expected, but even calcifications associated with certain diseases and conditions may not cause any significant and noticeable symptoms.
Possible symptoms of calcification in different areas of the body can be:
- bone pain
- a bump on the bone that can sometimes be visible as a lump under the skin,
- breast lump,
- dry or itchy eyes or impaired vision,
- growth disorder,
- frequent bone fractures,
- muscle cramps or weakness,
- tartar,
- increasingly pronounced general weakness,
- changes in bone structures (for example, bending of the spine or leg).
Who is more at risk?
There are certain factors that can increase the risk of developing calcifications, but this does not mean that all people who have risk factors will develop them. Risk factors are older age, autoimmune diseases, genetic history of calcium metabolism disorders, and injuries to internal tissues that cause inflammatory reactions.
In the breast
Calcifications are common in the breast and are often detected on mammograms, and can be caused by breast injuries, cell secretions, infections, and inflammation.
There are two main types of breast calcifications, microcalcifications and macrocalcifications. Microcalcifications on mammograms usually appear as tiny white spots and are often clustered. Most breast tumors start as microcalcifications, but this does not mean that all microcalcifications are cancerous. Additional tests are usually done, such as a biopsy, i.e. taking a tissue sample that is then analyzed in a laboratory to determine whether the accumulated calcium is related to the tumor or not. Macrocalcifications begin as microcalcifications and then grow into large, round calcium deposits.
This type of calcification is usually benign and occurs most often in women over 50 years of age, and is often caused by inflammation, previous injuries, or age-related changes in the blood vessels of the breast. It is most important to emphasize that regular visits to preventive mammography can help detect calcifications in the breasts, and the earlier any changes in the breasts are detected, the more positive and safer the outcome will be.
In blood vessels
Calcium build-up can form in blood vessels anywhere in the body, including the heart. They can also develop in the valves between the heart chambers. Calcifications in the arteries often occur as part of the natural aging process (calcium deposits in the coronary arteries are present in 90 percent of men and 67 percent of women over the age of 70), and such deposits in blood vessels can increase the risk of developing other diseases such as diabetes , chronic kidney disease and atherosclerosis or plaque deposition in blood vessels.
Calcification in the blood vessels can also lead to stenosis of the heart valves. This means that the valve may thicken - it may become rigid or completely closed. As a result, the heart has to work harder to deliver oxygen to the rest of the body, and this can lead to the development of other heart diseases. In some cases, damaged valves need to be surgically replaced or opened.
In the kidneys
Calcium deposits in the kidneys cause a condition called nephrocalcinosis. It is a relatively rare condition that usually affects both kidneys at the same time. The exact cause of kidney calcification is unknown, but it has been shown that high levels of calcium in the urine, called hypercalciuria, may be a risk factor.
There is also a type of kidney stones made of calcium that can cause very unpleasant symptoms, such as unbearable pain, elevated body temperature, and blood in the urine can also appear, but sometimes kidney stones do not have to cause any symptoms.
In joints and tendons
When calcium builds up in joints and tendons, a condition called calcifying tendinitis occurs. This condition often affects the tendons of the rotator cuff, and is one of the main causes of shoulder pain. Calcific tendinitis most often affects people between the ages of 30 and 50 and is more common in women than men. The cause is not yet fully understood, but it is thought that other medical conditions such as gout, diabetes, endocrine diseases, frozen shoulder or rotator cuff tears may be risk factors. Calcifications in the shoulders can cause pain and discomfort when moving the shoulder and lead to a decrease in the range of motion, but sometimes they do not cause any symptoms, but are discovered accidentally on X-rays taken for another problem.
Treatment
The treatment of calcifications depends on a number of factors, for example where the deposits are located, whether they cause pain or cause some other health problems. For example, non-cancerous breast calcifications usually do not require treatment. Some other calcifications, such as those on the teeth, are easy to remove: professional deep cleaning at the dental office is sufficient.
When it comes to arterial calcifications, there is no effective treatment. But since this type of calcification can lead to the development of heart problems, even fatal events such as a heart attack or stroke, your doctor may prescribe certain medications or advise some lifestyle changes that can help keep your blood pressure under control. and cholesterol levels under control.
For calcifications in internal organs, treatment is focused on preventing further organ damage and treating other diseases that can lead to additional calcifications, such as chronic inflammation. This may include some habit changes, such as increasing fluid intake and taking medication to reduce inflammation.
For kidney stones, treatment may or may not be necessary. For example, smaller stones can be passed out without treatment, while large stones cause severe pain and can get stuck when leaving the body.
Calcifications in the joints and tendons can cause inflammation and then anti-inflammatory drugs and home treatment including cold compresses are needed to reduce symptoms in the acute phase. Sometimes, if chronic pain caused by calcium deposits occurs, surgery may be necessary.
Prevention is what everyone has the hardest time with - healthy lifestyle habits
Unfortunately, there is no proven way to prevent the formation of calcifications in the body. But a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk of various diseases and disorders caused by calcium deposits. What you can do to reduce the risk of calcification, and which will also benefit your health in general, is to:
- stop smoking,
- reduce alcohol consumption to a minimum,
- maintain a healthy weight,
- limit your intake of processed foods,
- ensure enough quality night sleep,
- you apply stress coping methods
- you regularly do some physical activity.
But there are some other measures you can take to, if nothing else, detect calcifications in time and keep them under control. If you are over 65, have regular blood tests to check your blood calcium levels.
If you are less than 65 years old and were born with a heart defect or a kidney disease, you have a higher risk of forming calcifications than the rest of your peers, so in that case it would be good to make an appointment with your doctor for regular tests to check the level of calcium in your blood . Sometimes medicines can also affect the level of calcium in the body, for example those for lowering cholesterol and for hypertension and hormone therapy. If you are taking such medicines, you should also periodically check your blood calcium level in consultation with your doctor.
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