Hypermagnesemia

Hypermagnesemia – General Information

If a patient has been diagnosed with Hypermagnesemia, he has abnormally low levels of Magnesium in his or her blood. This is quite a rare medical condition. Magnesium is a well known chemical element that is considered one of the human organism’s most valuable electrolytes. Physicians consider it the second most important intracellular cation, as it plays a valuable part in various cellular metabolic processes. For example, the presence of magnesium is vital for the synthesis of protein, DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and of the parathyroid hormone.Magnesium is regularly found in the healthy organism of an adult in 2000 mEq. 67% of the entire amount of magnesium is found in the bones, only 1% in the extra-cellular space and the rest (31%) in the organism’s intracellular environment.

The absorption of this chemical element occurs in the individual’s ileum. Magnesium is excreted through the patient’s urine and stool. An adult ought to make sure that his or her diet provides their organism with 300-350 mg of magnesium on a daily basis. In order to achieve this purpose one ought to eat vegetables, fruits and seeds, as this chemical element is widely encountered in all green plants.
The organism’s kidneys play an important role in regulating the individual’s blood concentration of magnesium. When a patient experiences the signs and / or symptoms that are linked to Hypermagnesemia, he or she ought to immediately undergo a kidney medical exam in order to check his or her kidney functions. An excessive amount of magnesium can trigger a series of severe consequences. This is why it is best to try and avoid experiencing this medical condition. Please refer to your personal health care provider for further information regarding prevention methods.

Hypermagnesemia – Symptoms

Hypermagnesemia – Treatment

Although the dialysis’ in the case of the removal of divalent cations in most patients is widely debated, there are several studies that have shown that this therapy method can effectively remove large amounts of magnesium from the individual’s blood. This is why a patient who suffers from the severe form of this medical condition (when his or her blood magnesium levels are higher than 8 mEq/L and he is prone to developing the potentially lethal complications of this disorder) will undergo dialysis. This therapy is also widely prescribed to individuals who present poor renal function.

A therapy for Hypermagnesemia not only aims to treat the disease itself (and the underlying medical condition that has lead to the appearance of elevated levels of blood magnesium) but also to ease the individual’s unpleasant symptoms. For example, patients who present hypotension should follow a diet with plenty of fluids in order to stabilize their tension. Some individuals who suffer from the severe complications of this medical condition (who present heart complications) might have to undergo drastic therapy options (such as intubation). All patients must be aware of the fact that the appropriate therapy method for their medical condition (Hypermagnesemia) varies upon the severity of their disorder and on the signs that they complain of. For example, patients who present mildly elevated blood magnesium levels ought to simply limit their daily intake of magnesium through a special diet. However, the severe cases of Hypermagnesemia ought to be prescribed other therapy options, with greater effects. Scientists have concluded that some types of medicines are quite effective in most cases of individuals who present abnormally high blood levels of magnesium.

While some individuals are prescribed a therapy with intravenous (IV) fluids (for example lactated Ringer solution and / or normal saline) and require a close monitoring by an authorized health care provider of their pulmonary and cardiovascular functions (in case the individual develops pulmonary edema this therapy must be immediately stopped), others start a treatment with diuretics (water pills). The most common diuretic is Lasix (furosemide) that has proved to be quite effective in promoting the loss of magnesium through urine. Other therapy options include the intake of mineral supplements (such as Kalcinate); as it is widely known that calcium has the ability to directly antagonize the effects of this chemical element (both its cardiovascular and neuromuscular effects). Most individuals with Hypermagnesemia effectively respond to the therapy and easily restore their magnesium levels. However, all individuals ought to be more interested in gathering further information regarding the potential medicines that can trigger this medical disorder in order to avoid the recurrence of this disease.