Calcium Test

This test can help determine the amount of calcium you have in your blood. Low levels may cause a calcium deficiency (hypocalcemia) and are more common than high levels (hypercalcemia). Calcium is critical to maintain proper muscle function and structurally to build and maintain bones. It also helps with blood clotting, nerve signaling, and helps the heart maintain its normal rhythm. Health problems that may cause a calcium deficiency include malnutrition, pancreatitis, and hypoparathyroidism.

Electrolytes are necessary for basic cell function and help the body perform and maintain important processes. Calcium is an electrolyte and is one of the most abundant minerals in the human body. It plays a key role in multiple bodily functions such as the formation of bones and teeth, proper muscle and nerve function, and blood clotting. It also helps maintain a normal heart rhythm. Most of the calcium in your body is stored in your bones, with only 1% circulating in your bloodstream.

When electrolytes are imbalanced, normal bodily functions are disrupted and can cause life threatening complications. By testing your calcium levels, you and your healthcare provider may be able to better understand the cause of your symptoms and identify next steps.

No doctor's visit needed. Buy this calcium lab test, visit a nearby Quest location, and get fast results.

This test may be right for you if any of the following are true:

• You are curious to know your calcium level
• You have been diagnosed with kidney, bone, or thyroid disease, or are on a calcium supplement and want to monitor your results
• You are on medication that may interfere with your body’s absorption of calcium
• You are living a dietary lifestyle low in calcium-rich foods
• You have risk factors that may cause your body to have abnormal calcium levels such as:
  • Age – people over 50
  • Post menopausal women
  • People who don’t drink milk or eat dairy products
• You are exhibiting signs or symptoms of a calcium related condition (see Signs & symptoms section below)

Calcium is an essential mineral needed in our bodies. It is the most abundant mineral found in the body and plays an important role in keeping your heart and muscles functioning normally. Calcium also helps keep bones and teeth strong and helps move blood through blood vessels through the body.

If you don’t eat enough calcium-rich foods, or if your body doesn’t store or absorb enough of it, you may have low levels. Too much or too little calcium may lead to a variety of symptoms including, but limited to, headache, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, joint pain, constipation, and vomiting.

Signs and symptoms of low calcium include:

• Dry scaly skin
• Brittle nails
• Coarse hair
• Muscle cramps and/or twitching
• Memory Loss
• Depression
• Hallucinations
• Confusion

Signs and symptoms of high calcium include:

• Constipation
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite

If you experience these more severe symptoms, SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION:

• Trouble breathing
• Irregular heartbeat
• Seizures (in severe cases)
• Cardiac arrest (in severe cases)