Is hypercalcemia the cause of your heartburn?

Is hypercalcemia the cause of your heartburn?

There are many different reasons why people develop heartburn or the condition known as acid reflux syndrome. The most common cause of heartburn is that the muscular valve that closes between the stomach and esophagus does not close properly, allowing the acid to enter the throat and mouth, leaving pain and damage.

However, there may be a connection to hypercalcemia, and if you have this, you may find that this is the cause of heartburn and may be part of the reason why pre-existing reflux works so hard for you.

Hypercalcemia is basically an excess of calcium in the body or bloodstream. Many people think you should get as much calcium as possible, but there are times when the body retains too much and there are problems that can result. It usually indicates something else going on in the body.

Some of the symptoms of this condition vary but may include fatigue, mental fog or confusion, upset stomach (vomiting and nausea), increased urge to urinate, constipation, depression, and in some cases, muscle weakness and kidney stones. This can also cause an abnormal heart rate or rhythm.

This condition is usually the result of something else. It can occur as a symptom of hyperthyroidism. This occurs when the thyroid works too well and the body loses mass very quickly. It could also be a side symptom that occurs with cancer or Paget's disease. This is diagnosed with a blood test that gives an accurate calcium level, and an EKG may be needed to test for abnormal heart rhythms. Treatment usually occurs when the underlying disease is treated.

The problems with heartburn and hypercalcemia appear to be twofold.

One problem is that calcium is an ingredient in many over-the-counter heartburn medications. This can cause a person with severe acid reflux symptoms to consume too much calcium each day. On the other hand, for many who already suffer from GERD or those who have never had a problem, this condition can actually cause increased acid production. In turn, a person could take more OTC medications, and the problem would then worsen. For this reason, if hypercalcemia is suspected, it is important to pay attention to symptoms and seek medical attention. It is important to note that the acid reflux medication alone will not cause this condition in most people, but may worsen it in those who already have it due to one of the known underlying causes.

A doctor must perform the appropriate tests to find out why the hypercalcemia is present and address the underlying disease to bring it under control.

If a person finds out that this is the cause of heartburn, they will need to seek treatment for the condition that causes hypercalcemia and then find something for GERD that does not contain calcium. That might not clear up the problem, but that might stop some of the excess acid production associated with it. Once the underlying cause of the excess calcium is found, acid production may decrease, although this does not mean that it will not disappear completely.

Inspired by Kathryn Whittaker