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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffIf you develop hypercalcemia, it may be possible to prevent bone and kidney damage by doing the following:
- Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Drinking fluids can help keep you from dehydration and help prevent kidney stones from forming.
- Exercise. Once your calcium levels return to normal, and if you're otherwise healthy, it's important to remain active to help maintain bone density. Try to combine strength training with weight-bearing exercises. Strength training builds muscles and bones in your arms and upper spine. Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, mainly affect the bones in your legs, hips and lower spine. If you're new to exercise, start out slowly and build up gradually. If your hypercalcemia is the result of cancer that has spread to your bones, talk to your doctor before engaging in any exercise.
- Don't smoke. Smoking has been shown to increase bone loss as well as to dramatically increase your risk of a number of serious health problems. Talk to your doctor about the best ways to quit.
References
- Disorders of calcium concentration. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec12/ch156/ch156g.html. Accessed April 11, 2009.
- Agus ZS. Etiology of hypercalcemia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 10, 2009.
- Hypercalcemia (PDQ) health professional version. National Cancer Institute. Accessed April 11, 2009.
- Dietary supplement fact sheet: Calcium. Office of Dietary Supplements http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/calcium.asp. Accessed March 8, 2009.
- Carroll MF. A practical approach to hypercalcemia. American Family Physician. 2003; 67: 1959.
- Bergson EJ. Sestamibi scans and intraoperative parathyroid hormone measurement in the treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism. Archives of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. 2004; 130:87.
- Hyperparathyroidism. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/hyper/hyper.htm. Accessed April 14, 2009.
- Agus ZS. Treatment of hypercalcemia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 10, 2009.
- Nippoldt, TB (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Rochester, Minn. April 20, 2009.
