Hyperphosphatemia

Hyperphosphatemia – General Information

Hyperphosphatemia is an electrolyte disturbance in which the patients have abnormal elevated levels of phosphate in the blood stream and in many cases the patients also have lowered calcium levels (which is also known as hypocalcemia). The hypocalcemia appears as a result of the precipitation of the phosphate along with the calcium in the tissues. The normal levels of phosphate in the blood stream are about 2, 5 – 4, 5 mg/dL, although these normal values usually differ from a laboratory to another. Phosphate can be found in the teeth and bones and a person needs vitamin D in order to absorb phosphorus. In normal and healthy persons the kidneys excrete the phosphate; this is why the most common cause of Hyperphosphatemia is the inability of the kidneys to excrete phosphate. This disorder may also be encountered in people who have an excessive intake of phosphate, in the persons who have calcium and magnesium deficiencies or those who have an excess of vitamin D, in people who have infections caused by the increased levels of phosphate, in persons who have cell destruction resulting from chemotherapy, in the patients who have respiratory problems and those who have acute kidney failure. Also the persons can develop Hyperphosphatemia from excessive and prolonged exercises, or if they have medical problems with the thyroid gland, the parathyroid gland and other hormones which lead to the high levels of phosphorus. The patients may have high levels of phosphorus if they have been under treatment with oral sodium phosphate.

Hyperphosphatemia – Symptoms

It is well known the fact that any medical disorder (including Hyperphosphatemia can trigger a variety of symptoms. Therefore, some of this medical condition's most uncommon symptoms have not been listed (mentioned) here. This is why we strongly recommend you to contact your personal health care provider whenever you develop any unusual, bothersome or unpleasant symptoms. Your personal physician will be able to tell you if you are suffering from Hyperphosphatemia or from any other medical disorder. Here is a list of the most common symptoms that a person who suffers from Hyperphosphatemia, may experience, although this medical condition is usually asymptomatic.

The patients who suffer from this medical condition usually have the symptoms of kidney failure. Patients may not be able to regulate the balances of the water and electrolyte levels, to promote the production of the red blood cells and neither to clear the waste products from the organism. Patients may also experience weakness, generalized swelling, and shortness of breath. The inability to excrete the excess quantity of phosphorus leads to fatal rhythm disturbances (also known as arrhythmias). Usually the levels of urea increase and this affects a variety or organs starting from the brain in which it causes encephalopathy and ending with the inflammation of the heart called pericarditis. The patients may also experience a feeling of general weakness as a result of developing anemia. Patients may also experience a loss of appetite, fatigue as a result of the waste products building in the organism. This can progress until the mental functions decrease and the patients enter a coma.

Hyperphosphatemia – Treatment

The patients who are suffering from Hyperphosphatemia are recommended by their doctors or personal health care providers to exercise and to maintain the optimal functioning of the organism (the patients should make a daily program of exercising such as walking, playing football, volleyball etc.), because the sport helps the organism to promote the flow of the oxygen in the blood and also in the lungs. Before beginning any treatment, the patients should inform their doctor or personal health care provider about any other medication treatment that they are taking in order to avoid the possible interactions between the two treatments and also to tell them if they have a family history of diabetes, heart, liver or kidney disease. The patients suffering from Hyperphosphatemia should also try to drink plenty of liquids, unless they are not told otherwise. In the cases in which the patients who are suffering from this disorder experience side-effects or severe symptoms, they should talk to their doctor or personal health care provider about them, because the doctors can recommend them medications which can manage these problems.

There are a few drugs which can be prescribed for the patients who are suffering from Hyperphosphatemia. The treatment of this medical condition relies on the identification of the underlying cause and treating it. We intend to present you a list of drugs which the doctors or personal health care providers may recommend to the patients who are suffering from this disorder. Aluminum hydroxide is usually used in order to bind the phosphate from the patient’s blood. The bad part is that if it used in prolonged treatments it can lead to aluminum toxicity. Calcium carbonate tablets are the most common used treatment for the patients who have this medical condition. These drugs must be taken three times a day. Alternagel are also aluminum hydroxide based medicines. The patients should inform the doctor before starting the treatment if they have kidney problems or other medical conditions and if they medical conditions which affect the digestion by slowing it down. Alu-cap is also aluminum hydroxide based medicines. The patients should inform the doctor before starting the treatment if they have kidney problems or other medical conditions and if they medical conditions which affect the digestion by slowing it down. Calphron is a calcium mineral drug which binds with the phosphate and helps in eliminating it from the body. These drugs also help the patients to control their Hyperphosphatemia and avoid the kidney failure. These drugs may lead to side-effects such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite, dry mouth, swelling of the face, lips and throat, difficulty in breathing and the patients who experience them should contact their doctor as soon as possible as these may appear as a allergic reaction to one or more components of these drugs. PhosLo Gelcap is also an aluminum hydroxide based medicine. The patients with Hyperphosphatemia should inform the doctor before starting the treatment if they have kidney problems or other medical conditions.