Hypermagnesemia is the increase in magnesium levels in the blood, usually above 2.5 mg / dl, which normally does not cause characteristic symptoms and, therefore, is often identified only in blood tests.
Although it can happen, hypermagnesemia is rare, as the kidney can easily eliminate excess magnesium from the blood. Therefore, when it happens, the most common is that there is some kind of kidney disease, which prevents it from properly eliminating excess magnesium.
In addition, as this magnesium disorder is often accompanied by changes in potassium and calcium levels, treatment may involve not only correcting magnesium levels, but also balancing calcium and potassium levels.
Main symptoms
Excess magnesium usually shows signs and symptoms only when blood levels become above 4.5 mg / dl and in these cases, it can lead to:
- Absence of tendon reflexes in the body; Muscle weakness; Very slow breathing.
In more serious situations, hypermagnesemia can even lead to coma, respiratory and cardiac arrest.
When there is a suspicion of being in excess of magnesium, especially in people with some type of kidney disease, it is important to consult the doctor, to do blood tests to assess the amount of the mineral in the blood.
How the treatment is done
To start the treatment, the doctor needs to identify the cause of the excess magnesium, so that it can be corrected and allow the balance of the levels of this mineral in the blood. Thus, if it is being caused by a change in the kidneys, for example, appropriate treatment should be started, which may include dialysis, in the case of renal failure.
If it is due to excessive consumption of magnesium, the person should be on a diet that is less rich in the source foods of this mineral, such as pumpkin seeds or Brazil nuts. In addition, people who are taking magnesium supplements without medical advice should also discontinue their use. Check out a list of the most magnesium-rich foods.
In addition, due to calcium and potassium imbalances, common in cases of hypermagnesaemia, it may also be necessary to use medication or calcium directly in the vein.
What can cause hypermagnesemia
The most common cause of hypermagnesemia is kidney failure, which makes the kidney unable to regulate the proper amount of magnesium in the body, but there may also be other causes such as:
- Excessive magnesium intake: use of supplements or use of medicines containing magnesium as laxatives, enemas for the intestine or antacids for reflux, for example; Gastrointestinal disorders, such as gastritis or colitis: cause increased absorption of magnesium; Adrenal gland problems, such as Addison's disease.
In addition, pregnant women with pre-eclampsia, or with eclampsia, may also develop temporary hypermagnesemia through the use of high doses of magnesium in the treatment. In these cases, the situation is usually identified by the obstetrician and tends to improve shortly afterwards, when the kidneys eliminate excess magnesium.
