Managing Calcium Levels for Heart Health: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you taking good care of your health?

With the rising incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in India, maintaining heart health is a priority. 

Calcium is vital for several bodily functions, including maintaining strong bones, muscle functions, and nerve transmission, but its role in heart health also can’t be ignored. 

Do you know?

• Any imbalance in the calcium levels, whether too high or too low, can affect cardiovascular function. 
• From a pharmaceutical perspective, calcium management can help reduce heart disease risk and ensure bones remain healthy. 

Want to know more? Today’s blog is an information guide, including the connection between calcium and heart health, potential risks, and more. 

Calcium and Its Role

Calcium is an essential mineral that helps build and maintain strong bones. It is mainly stored in bones and teeth, which gives them structure and hardness. Moreover, calcium is also needed for the normal contraction of heart muscles. 

The connection between calcium and heart health

Calcium plays a significant role in regulating normal heart rhythms and blood vessel tone. Factors such as a sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, and high levels of stress put a lot of pressure on the heart. Hence increasing the risk of heart disease, mainly in individuals with existing heart issues such as high BP, diabetes, or high cholesterol. 

Also read: https://redcliffelabs.com/myhealth/radiology/heart-tests-done-to-detect-heart-diseases-and-problems/

In this context, management of calcium intake is critical to prevent heart-related disease. Every heartbeat depends on the proper regulation of calcium moving in and out of cells. 

If the calcium levels are too high, it can lead to excessive heart muscle contraction, causing high BP or arrhythmia. On the other hand, if the calcium levels are too low in the body, it can result in weaker heart contractions, impairing the heart's ability to pump blood effectively.

Furthermore, calcium triggers blood vessel contraction or relaxation, which is crucial for maintaining healthy blood pressure. If the calcium levels are not regulated, it can lead to congestive heart failure, heart rate slows, and other cardiovascular issues. 

Calcium Imbalance and Heart Health Risks

Maintaining the right balance of calcium is crucial for bone and heart health. Calcium imbalances can lead to several health risks, including: 

1. Hypercalcemia (high calcium levels)

When there is too much calcium in the blood, it leads to hypercalcemia. It is caused by eating too many calcium supplements, certain medications, or conditions like hyperparathyroidism. 

Hypercalcemia can lead to calcification of arteries and arrhythmias.

• Calcification of arteries: It occurs due to excess calcium deposits in the walls of arteries. This reduces blood flow and increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke.
• Arrhythmias: Too much calcium can disrupt the heart's electrical activity, causing irregular heartbeats or arrhythmias, which can be dangerous. 

2. Hypocalcemia (low calcium levels)

Hypocalcemia, or low calcium levels, can be dangerous due to inadequate dietary intake, certain medical conditions, or vitamin D deficiency. 

Low calcium levels can lead to weak heart muscles and low BP. 

• Weak heart muscles: Your body needs calcium for strong muscle contractions. Too low calcium levels may not allow you to pump blood effectively, resulting in heart failure.
• Low Blood Pressure: Lower-than-normal blood pressure can occur due to too low calcium levels. This causes dizziness, fainting, or even shock in severe cases.

3. Balancing Calcium with Other Nutrients

You can only balance calcium with other nutrients for optimal health. 

• Vitamin D: Lack of vitamin D can drop calcium levels, thus increasing the risk of heart disease. 
• Magnesium helps regulate calcium levels in the body. If your body lacks magnesium, it can lead to calcium buildup in the arteries, contributing to cardiovascular issues.
• Vitamin K2 helps direct calcium to the bones and teeth rather than allowing it to deposit in arteries. 

What is the ideal dosage of calcium? 

The recommended daily calcium intake (RDI) may vary depending on age, sex, and life stage. 

• For adults (19-50 years), the recommended daily calcium intake is around 1000 mg. 
• Additionally, the RDI increases to 1200 mg for women over 50 and men over 70. 

Calcium and Calcium Supplements: Achieving the Right Balance

Your body can’t produce calcium. You can obtain it through a balanced diet and calcium supplements. Avoid over-supplementation or a diet low in calcium, as it can lead to complications related to heart health. 

Calcium is present in a variety of foods, including: 

• Dairy products: cheese, milk, and yogurt
• Leafy greens: spinach, kale, broccoli, soybeans, and collard green. 
• Fortified foods: plant-based milk, soy products, cereal, and fruit juices 
• Fish such as sardines and salmon (with bones) 

Additionally, sun exposure is also an excellent source of vitamin D. 

Calcium supplements: Proceed with caution

To absorb calcium, calcium supplements may also help meet your calcium requirements. Consult with your doctor to learn whether calcium supplements are needed. If yes, how much calcium supplement should you take daily? 

4 common calcium supplements are: 

• Calcium carbonate: It offers 40% of elemental calcium. 
• Calcium citrate: It provides 21% of elemental calcium. 
• Calcium gluconate: It offers 9% of elemental calcium.
• Calcium lactate: It offers 13% of elemental calcium. 

Note: Calcium supplements are not recommended to all. For instance, individuals with hypercalcemia (high calcium levels) should avoid calcium supplements. It may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases due to arterial calcification. It’s best to discuss with a doctor to assess your individual needs before starting any supplementation.

Pharmaceutical Perspective on Managing Calcium Levels for Heart Health

The pharmaceutical perspective on managing calcium levels for heart health emphasizes ensuring an optimal balance in the body. It involves carefully balancing supplements, therapies to prevent calcium imbalance, routine health checkups, and public health campaigns. This helps prevent complications such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD), arrhythmias, and blood pressure fluctuations. Let’s discuss them in detail. 

1. Vitamin D-Calcium combination: Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption. Many calcium supplements are available with a vitamin D combination. 

Consult with your doctor regarding the dosage ideal for consumption depending on your age, sex, existing conditions, and overall health.

2. Healthy Lifestyle: Maintain a healthy lifestyle. This means incorporating a heart-healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, physical activity, and yoga and meditation to manage stress. 
3. Routine health checkups: Regular health checkups are important for detecting calcification or other cardiovascular diseases early. This is to prevent serious health complications such as high cholesterol, high BP, stroke, or heart failure. 

Book a calcium level test for heart health from Redcliffe Labs! 

A calcium level test, also known as a calcium blood test, is included in routine screening tests and may be needed to check for too much or too little calcium, screen for certain disorders, and for many reasons. 

Book a calcium level test from Redcliffe Labs with a home sample collection. Get accurate reports within a given time. 

Also read: https://redcliffelabs.com/myhealth/lifestyle/calcium-levels-test-high-vs-low-vs-normal/ 

Below are guidelines to book a calcium level test online from Redcliffe Labs: 

1. Go to the Redcliffe Labs website.
2. Search for the "Calcium level test." 
3. Click on the calcium test. You will see details, including the test price. 
4. Follow the prompts to book your test. 
5. Complete the payment process. 

Note: After booking, you will receive a confirmation via SMS and WhatsApp.

4. Therapies to prevent calcium imbalance: There is a dire need to develop therapies that help prevent calcium imbalance. It is so because older patients struggle to maintain calcium levels while protecting their heart health. In this way, pharmaceutical companies help prevent arterial calcification. 
5. Public Health Campaigns: Pharmaceutical companies should join hands with healthcare providers and government initiatives. Together, they should run awareness campaigns for India's urban and rural population, underlining the importance of balanced calcium intake. 

Conclusion

It is important to monitor calcium levels in the body to maintain heart health. Too low or too high calcium levels can cause heart-related complications. Close monitoring by healthcare providers is essential to prevent calcium-related cardiovascular diseases, particularly in patients with existing heart conditions.