Calcium channel blockers Flashcards
1
Q
- What is the importance of calcium in the body?
A
2
Q
- What are the functions of calcium in the body
A
3
Q
- What can calcium prevent and decrease risk of ?
A
4
Q
- what happens if there is too little calcium?
A
- calcium out of bones into the blood as needed to maintain a steady calcium level in the blood.
- too much calcium is mobilized from the bones, weakening them.
- Osteoporosis can result.
5
Q
- What is rickets?
A
6
Q
- What else is low calcium absorption associated with?
A
7
Q
- What does calcium do as an electrolyte?
A
Calcium is one of the body’s electrolytes, which are minerals that carry an electric charge when dissolved in body fluids such as blood, but most of the body’s calcium is uncharged.
8
Q
- Where is calcium stored?
A
- About 99% of the body’s calcium is stored in the bones, but cells, particularly muscle cells, and blood also contain calcium.
9
Q
- What is calcium essential for?
A
- Calcium is essential for the following:
- Formation of bone and teeth
- Muscle contraction
- Normal functioning of many enzymes
- Blood clotting
- Normal heart rhythm
10
Q
- How do we maintain a normal level of calcium?
A
- To maintain a normal level of calcium in the blood without weakening the bones, people need to consume at least 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams of calcium a day.
11
Q
- How is The level of calcium in the blood is regulated
A
Parathyroid hormone and Calcitonin
12
Q
What is the role of the parathyroid hormone?
A
- Parathyroid hormone is secreted from four parathyroid glands, which are small glands in the neck. Parathyroid hormone regulates calcium levels in the blood, largely by increasing the levels when they are too low. It does this through its actions on the kidneys, bones, and intestine
13
Q
- What impact does the parathyroid hormone have the bones, kidneys, and intestine?
A
- Bones – parathyroid hormone stimulates the release of calcium from large calcium stores in the bones into the bloodstream. This increases bone destruction and decreases the formation of new bone.
- Kidneys – parathyroid hormone reduces loss of calcium in urine. Parathyroid hormone also stimulates the production of active vitamin D in the kidneys.
- Intestine – parathyroid hormone indirectly increases calcium absorption from food in the intestine, via its effects on vitamin D metabolism.
14
Q
- How does the parathyroid hormone work in relation to low and high calcium?
A
Parathyroid hormone is mainly controlled by the negative feedback of calcium levels in the blood to the parathyroid glands.
- Low calcium levels in the blood stimulate parathyroid hormone secretion
- high calcium levels in the blood prevent the release of parathyroid hormone.
15
Q
- What happens when there is too much parathyroid hormone?
A
producing too much parathyroid hormone causes raised calcium levels in the blood (hypercalcaemia) and this is referred to as primary hyperparathyroidism.