hormonal and metabolic disorders
Hypocalcemia (Low Level of Calcium in the Blood)
Introduction
In hypocalcemia, the calcium level in blood is too low. A lowcalciumlevel may result from a problem with the parathyroid glands, as well as from diet, kidney disorders, or certain medications. As hypocalcemia progresses, muscle cramps are common, and people may become confused, depressed, and forgetful and have tingling in their lips, fingers, and feet as well as stiff, achy muscles. Usually, the disorder is detected by routine blood tests. Calciumandvitamin Dsupplements may be used to treat hypocalcemia. (See also Overview of Electrolytes and is one of the body's Overview of Electrolytes , which are About 40% of thecalciumin blood is attached (bound) to proteins in blood, mainlyalbumin. Protein-boundcalciumacts as a reserve source ofcalciumfor the cells but has no active function in the body. Only unboundcalciumaffects the body’s functions. Thus, hypocalcemia causes problems only when the level of unboundcalciumis low. Unboundcalciumhas an electrical (ionic) charge, so it is also called ionizedcalcium. 