Calcium is the mineral that the body needs most to build and maintain strong bones. It is also important for muscle contraction and to allow blood clotting. Some calcium deficiency symptoms include pallid skin, tiredness, and muscle aches and twitches.

Calcium deficiency, also known as hypocalcaemia, is the result of insufficient calcium in the blood. Sometimes this is due to insufficient calcium intake. Sometimes it is due to poor calcium absorption.

Calcium deficiency symptoms can often provide the opportunity for treatment before the condition becomes too severe. If the condition persists for an extended period and becomes severe, chronic calcium deficiency can develop. This can be accompanied by a host of more serious symptoms. An improperly treated calcium deficiency can lay the foundation for other illnesses such as osteoporosis and rickets.

There are cases where babies are born calcium deficient. Such children may not grow properly, and their bones may not development correctly. Sometimes they experience indigestion and diarrhea. Mothers who are calcium deficient may have difficulty providing adequate breast milk.

For pre-teens and teenage girls, calcium deficiency symptoms can affect their feminine development. They may enter puberty late. It is also possible that their menstrual cycles will be irregular, and they may experience excessive bleeding with cramps.

Visible calcium deficiency symptoms include pale skin and listless appearance. A person suffering from the condition may get tired easily and appear to act lazy. She may also begin sweating around her hairline even when it is cold.

Calcium deficiency also affects the teeth. In babies, the teeth may develop late or be defective. In older people, advanced tooth decay can begin and become more progressive.

There are some calcium deficiency symptoms that may only be discovered by a doctor. For example, it may take a physician’s assessment to discover that a person is anemic. It may also take a physician to make the connection between seemingly unconnected symptoms.

Osteoporosis, a disease often resulting from calcium deficiency, is most common in women and usually develops after menopause. Caucasian and Asian women are especially advised to fight calcium deficiency since they are the groups most likely to suffer from osteoporosis. This disease, which makes the bones brittle, has no symptoms. It usually only discovered when a person breaks a bone.

Calcium deficiency symptoms are best managed by working to prevent the condition beforehand. Some people choose to meet their daily calcium needs through dietary supplements. Others choose to meet their needs through their diets. Natural sources are often recommended over supplements, and include soy milk, broccoli and kidney beans.