Benefits of Calcium Gluconate - Maintaining a Normal Blood Calcium Level
Calcium gluconate is a salt of calcium and gluconic acid. It is the
most popular form of calcium used in the treatment of hypocalcemia. It
is used to treat low calcium levels especially in people who lack
calcium in their diet. It is also used to treat other conditions caused
by low calcium level such as osteoporosis or bone loss, weak bones or
osteomalacia or rickets, hypoparathyroidism, and a certain muscular
condition called latent tetany.
Calcium plays a very important
role in the body. It is necessary for the normal functioning of nerves,
cells, muscles and bones. If there is not enough calcium in the blood,
then the body will take calcium from bones making the them weak and
brittle.
Ninety-nine percent of the body's calcium content is
stored in the bones and teeth. The rest is used in neurotransmission and
muscle contraction activities.
Clinical research show that
calcium gluconate is known to prevent bone thinning among postmenopausal
women. It is also recommended for nursing, and pregnant women.
In
cases of hyperkalemia, or the presence of high level potassium in the
blood, calcium gluconate is used to protect the heart. Although the
substance does not affect the level of potassium in the blood, it
reduces the activity of cardiomyocytes, or the building blocks of
cardiac muscles, thus reducing the risk of developing cardiac
arrhythmias.
Calcium gluconate is used as an antidote to magnesium
sulfate toxicity. Magnesium sulfate is often given to pregnant women to
prevent seizures especially those experiencing pre-eclampsia. It is
also given to women experiencing premature labor in order to stop labor
contractions. It may also be used to treat insect bites or stings,
particularly black widow spider bites. Calcium can be found in yogurt,
milk, and cheese. It is most readily absorbed in the body when taken in
conjunction with vitamin D thus we need to have enough of the sunshine
vitamin for the body to absorb enough calcium for healthy bones and
teeth.
Patients suffering from hypocalcemia are often given two
ampules of calcium gluconate -10% intravenously, given slowly in a
period of 10 minutes. If the hypocalcemia case is severe, calcium
chloride is given to the patient instead.
Calcium gluconate cannot
be given as an intramuscular or subcutaneous injection because it can
cause abscesses or necrosis of the skin and other tissues. Topical
preparations of calcium gluconate is used to treat hydrofluoric acid
burns for its ability to neutralize the acid content of the chemical.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Benefits of Calcium Gluconate - Maintaining a Normal Blood Calcium Level
