![]() ![]() Only a medical provider can tell you what your specific ionized calcium blood test results mean in relation to your medical history. It is a particularly important test for people who are facing surgery and are severely ill because it gives a more complete picture of their condition. It is usually conducted in a hospital setting only. The Ionized Calcium Blood Test Requires Special HandlingĪ total calcium blood test is more commonly ordered because the ionized test requires special care and handling for accurate results. Other conditions, such as an inflammation of the pancreas, kidney failure, or an under-active parathyroid gland may also cause low calcium levels to occur. Magnesium deficiencies have also been known to cause low calcium readings. People who are acutely ill may also have a temporarily low calcium level on the ionized calcium blood test. The most common cause of having calcium levels that are too low is malnutrition. Because of 75% of kidney stones contain calcium in them, it is important to diagnose this condition right away. Some cancers also produce a hormone that results in higher calcium levels.Ĭertain diseases such as tuberculosis or lifestyle habits like excessive Vitamin D intake can also contribute to high calcium levels. ![]() Several cancers can cause high calcium levels in the blood because they cause the bones to release calcium into the blood. The high calcium levels are usually just slightly out of range, so the issue can remain unnoticed for several years in some patients. This usually begins as a benign tumor of the parathryoid gland. If there is a high total calcium level, which is called hypercalcemia, then there are two common causes behind the condition. This means their calcium metabolism is functionally normally and their calcium blood levels are being regulated as needed. Most people will have a normal result from this blood test. Half of the calcium in the blood is bound to proteins, so the ionized blood test is used because it can measure the free calcium amounts. This blood test measures the amount of calcium that is regularly circulating within the bloodstream. What Do the Blood Test Results Mean?Ī common misconception is that the ionized calcium blood test is used to measure the calcium levels of a person’s bones. Kidney transplant recipients will also have this blood test ordered as a monitoring tool. Multiple myeloma and various head and neck cancers also affect calcium levels. This includes lung, breast, and kidney cancers. The ionized calcium blood test is also commonly ordered when certain cancers have been diagnosed. These can by symptoms of low calcium levels and easily fixed. Involuntary muscle twitches are also common in these areas. The most common reason for low calcium levels in patients today is when someone has numbness around their mouth and in their extremities. The most common reason is because of an issue with the thyroid gland. Low calcium levels are very common when someone is suffering from kidney failure.Ĭertain diseases, including cancer, have been associated with high and low levels of calcium. These symptoms are also common symptoms of serious diseases like MS or ALS and the stress of looking them up online can enhance the physical symptoms felt. ![]() Low levels of calcium can result in muscle cramping, abdominal cramping, tingling fingers, and muscle twitches. Someone who is experiencing unusual thirst, high levels of urination, fatigue, weakness, and a loss of appetite may have high calcium levels that can be detected on this blood test. Outside of the annual exam that most people have, a medical provider may also order this test for the following reasons. ![]() Most people do not experience any of these symptoms until their calcium levels are extremely out of range, so the test results may be very dramatic. The ionized calcium blood test is typically ordered when they are experiencing the symptoms of very high or very low calcium levels. Most people who are given this blood test will have normal results reported. It is often part of a routine health screening as it is considered part of the comprehensive metabolic panel and the basic metabolic panel. The ionized calcium blood test is used to diagnose, monitor, or screen for certain conditions that may affect the circulatory system, the kidneys, the nervous systems, or the bones and teeth. ![]()
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