Calcium Buildup
Calcium Buildup In The Body
A calcium buildup can affect the body in a number of different places and in a number of different ways. Our body requires a variety of minerals, many of which are vital to life itself. These minerals must not only be present, but must be present at certain levels. In other words, the makeup of minerals in our body is balanced. Too much or too little of one mineral can have a significant impact on our well being.
While quite a number of minerals are important, many such as selenium and zinc are needed only in trace amounts. Others, like iron, potassium, and calcium are needed in greater amounts. Most of the calcium in our bodies resides in our bones, but small amounts are needed in other organs and tissues at the cellular level. Our diets normally provide us with the all calcium we need, but at times we can experience either a calcium deficiency or a calcium buildup in our bones, teeth or other tissues or organs. When the amount of calcium in our body is out of balance it is often due to an imbalance of one or more of the other minerals. An excess of one mineral can result in the deficiency of another, and vice versa. Calcium is no exception.
Calcification - Calcium and calcium salts are insoluble. An excess or buildup of these salts is called calcification which can interfere with the normal functioning of different parts of our body. The areas where this buildup is often most pronounced and creates the most problems is in our joints and arteries. The kidneys can also experience a calcium buildup which is evident in the formation of one type of kidney stone.
The Joints Are Most Often Affected - Although not all the causes of arthritis are well known, one quite familiar cause is calcification of the joints. This calcification causes the smooth surfaces of the bones in a joint to become roughened, and consequently inflamed. The joint will become tender as well as less mobile, and in some cases an excess calcium buildup will result in the fusing of the joint. Sometimes when a bone is cracked or broken, deposits of excess calcium are formed during the healing process. In some cases this excess calcium is not harmful, in other cases the calcium buildup may eventually result in arthritis.
Calcium Buildup In The Cardiovascular System - Our veins and arteries can also be subjected to calcium buildup. Plaque, that well known substance that clogs our arteries, consists of among other things, cholesterol and calcium. Although 98% of the calcium in our body is normally found in the bones, it does not take a great deal of excess calcium buildup in our veins and arteries to lead to serious cardiovascular problems including heart attack, or high blood pressure which can result in a stroke. When a calcium buildup occurs in a vein instead of an artery, it's usually the valves in the veins that are most seriously impacted. The result is often varicose veins in some part of the body, most often the legs, and an excessive buildup may culminate in phlebitis, a serious disorder.
Kidney Buildup - A calcium buildup in the kidneys or the urinary tract usually manifests itself in the form of a kidney stone. There are several types of kidney stones, 4 types to be exact, with only one of the types having calcium or calcium salts as the major component.
It Can Occur Anywhere - In a sense, no part of the body is immune to the effects of calcium buildup. When it occurs in the brain it can lead to dementia, if a buildup occurs in the three small bones in the inner ear, hearing loss can result. Calcification in the prostate is quite common in older men, and is considered to be more or less a result of aging, although not everyone has the affliction. Calcium buildup appears to be one of those things we can never completely avoid. Kidney stones can be removed or are passed normally, clogged arteries can be reopened, and where arthritis cannot be cured, it can be treated such that the symptoms might not become severe.