What Causes Hypercalcemia?

Immobility

Many injuries and illnesses require a patient to stay in bed or remain seated in a wheelchair for long periods. In other cases, individuals develop highly sedentary lifestyles, sitting for extended periods at work or at home. This lack of activity weakens bones, causing them to deposit calcium into the blood. In this way, physical immobility can also result in hypercalcemia. Bones need weight-bearing exercise to retain calcium and stay strong. Even minimal amounts of light exercise, such as walking, riding a bicycle, or using an exercise machine can prevent bone loss and resulting hypercalcemia.

While these are not the only causes of hypercalcemia, most of the time, individuals who receive this diagnosis do so because of one or more underlying diseases or conditions. Treatment of the underlying condition resolves the problem of excess calcium in the blood.