Five major hazards of calcium deficiency in the elderly
1. Cause osteoporosis
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The ability of the elderly to absorb calcium in the intestines decreases and calcium loss increases . If the dietary calcium supply is insufficient, it may cause a decrease in bone density and bone mass, leading to osteoporosis. And with age, the function of regulating hormones such as calcitonin, estrogen, and parathyroid hormone in the body is disordered, and the risk of fractures increases relatively.
Mild osteoporosis has no obvious symptoms and is not easy to detect. More serious cases will cause back pain and limited physical activity . More serious cases will cause hunchbacks and even spontaneous fractures , especially vertebral, hip and femoral neck fractures, which have a great impact on the lives of the elderly.
2. Accelerate human aging
Calcium deficiency in the human body is actually a metabolic disease . Low blood calcium will stimulate the parathyroid gland to secrete parathyroid hormone, which will replenish the lack of blood calcium by dissolving bones. This will not only aggravate osteoporosis, but also a large amount of calcium will enter the blood and deposit in the blood vessel walls and soft tissues such as the myocardium and kidneys, causing arteriosclerosis, hypertension, coronary heart disease, kidney stones, Alzheimer’s disease, etc., thereby accelerating human aging.
3. Cause abnormal neuromuscular excitement
Calcium deficiency can lead to abnormal excitement of the nerves and muscles , and people will experience symptoms such as insomnia, irritability, and bad temper. Sometimes they may also experience muscle twitches and leg cramps. At this time, timely calcium supplementation can alleviate these symptoms.
4. Causes bone aging and loose teeth
Calcium is the main component of human bones and teeth. Calcium deficiency can lead to bone aging and loose teeth.
5. Cause joint disease
Calcium deficiency can also lead to joint diseases. The joints may suffer from reduced disease resistance due to calcium deficiency, making them more susceptible to diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and joint effusion.
Calcium is an indispensable trace element for the human body and plays an important role in maintaining the normal functions of the human body. As the elderly suffer from more serious calcium loss, they should be more alert to the harm caused by calcium deficiency and pay attention to calcium supplementation.
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