Calcium is essential to your overall health. Foods rich in calcium include dairy products like milk and cheese, vegetables -- especially green leafy ones -- tofu, beans and nuts. Hypercalcemia is the medical term for too much calcium in the blood. Your body tightly controls the calcium in your body so it remains balanced. Hypercalcemia occurs when your body's ability to regulate calcium is disrupted. A number of conditions can result in excess calcium.
How It Occurs
Hyperparathyroidism is the most common cause of hypercalcemia. Your parathyroid glands produce a hormone that balances calcium. When your parathyroid secretes too much parathyroid hormone, calcium blood levels rise. Other conditions that cause hypercalemia are kidney failure and adrenal failure. Excess vitamin D or calcium supplementation can also cause hypercalcemia. Treatment is aimed at the cause. Your physician will determine the best course of action if you're diagnosed with hypercalcemia.