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"Health problems,
particularly
osteoporosis,
are caused by
the typical
western diet."
-Thomas G. Kotronis
CALCIUM DEFICIENCY
Antacids, acid reducing and acid blocking medications have also been proven to prevent the absorption of calcium. Examples: Prilosec, Nexium, Tums, Aciphex, Prevacid, Protonix, Tagamet, Pepcid, Rolaids, etc.
Low calcium intake is recognized as a major public health problem in the United States, with more than 75 percent of Americans not meeting the current calcium recommendations for their age/gender group, putting them at risk for osteoporosis.
Because osteoporosis is largely preventable, The Surgeon General's Report on Osteoporosis and Bone Health details the need for a greater public health focus on osteoporosis — even among racial and ethnic minorities, men, children and adolescents and the frail elderly. It also addresses the pressing issue of inadequate calcium consumption.
Taking calcium regularly every day is key to preventing and treating calcium deficiency.
One of the major symptoms of a deficiency of this important mineral are skeletal abnormalities. Osteopenia, osteomalacia, osteoporosis and rickets may all be caused by calcium deficiency.
In children, osteomalacia is known as rickets. When children have rickets, their bones become soft and flexible, bending in ways normal bones would not.
Other symptoms of calcium deficiency include:
- insomnia
- nervousness
- tetany
- premenstrual cramps
- hypertension (high blood pressure)
- heart palpitations
- generalized muscle aching
- coarse hair
- brittle nails
- tooth decay
- back and leg muscle cramps
- dry and scaly skin
- candida infections
- spasm of facial musculature
- neuromuscular irritability
- laryngospasm (condition where you cannot catch your breath)
- papilledema (swelling of the optic nerve)
- convulsions
- ocular cataracts
- osteoporosis
- lip, tongue, finder and feet paresthesias
- numbness around the mouth
- arms and leg numbness
- unexplained dementia, depression, or psychosis
Because circulating blood calcium levels are tightly regulated in the bloodstream, hypocalcemia (low blood calcium) does not usually occur due to low calcium intake, but rather results from a medical problem or treatment such as renal failure, surgical removal of the stomach (which significantly decreases calcium absorption), and use of certain types of diuretics (which result in increased loss of calcium and fluid through urine). Simple dietary calcium deficiency produces no signs at all. Hypocalcemia can cause numbness and tingling in fingers, muscle cramps, convulsions, lethargy, poor appetite, and mental confusion. It can also result in abnormal heart rhythms and even death. Individuals with medical problems that result in hypocalcemia should be under a medical doctor's care and receive specific treatment aimed at normalizing calcium levels in the blood. [Please note that the symptoms described here may be due to a medical condition other than hypocalcemia.] It is important to consult a health professional if you experience any of these symptoms.
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PURCHASE |
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Why Are America’s Bones Shrinking
by Thomas G. Kotronis, Rph |
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