Magnesium is a very important mineral when it comes to your health. Some call magnesium the “master mineral,” since it is involved in over 300 metabolic processes in our bodies.
Also known as hypomagnesia, magnesium deficiency occurs when you have an inadequate intake of dietary magnesium or an impaired ability to absorb magnesium efficiently. This condition can result in many different symptoms and diseases if left untreated.
Common Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency
There are many different symptoms that can result from a magnesium deficiency. The “classic” symptoms are related to the imbalance of minerals such as potassium and calcium. These include:
- Neurological symptoms: These symptoms can include lethargy, nausea and vomiting, seizures, loss of appetite, behavioral disturbances, anxiety, irritability, and impaired memory or cognitive functioning.
- Muscular symptoms: Symptoms related to the muscular system can include tics, cramps, vertigo, difficulty swallowing, weakness, spasms, hyperactive reflexes, impaired muscle coordination, tremors, and involuntary eye movements.
- Metabolic symptoms: Your metabolism can also be affected by hyperglycemia, calcium deficiency, potassium deficiency, and increased intracellular calcium.
- Cardiovascular symptoms: Sometimes coronary spasms and irregular or rapid heartbeat can also result from magnesium deficiency.
- Symptoms in children: Children will sometimes experience growth retardation in response to magnesium deficiency.
Conditions Caused by Magnesium Deficiency
Along with the symptoms that come with magnesium deficiency, there are also several conditions that can result from long-term deficiency. Though they could be due to other factors, the following conditions may possibly indicate magnesium deficiency:
- Epilepsy
- ADHD
- Depression
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Osteoporosis
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Parkinson’s disease
- Cluster headaches
- Premenstrual syndrome
- Angina (chest pain)
- Migraine
- Sleep problems
- Hypertension
- Asthma
- Coronary artery disease
- Type II diabetes
The longer your magnesium levels are low, the more likely that your bodily stores will be diminished. This can lead to some of these dangerous side effects that can come with long-term deficiency. If you have adequate levels of magnesium, your heart health will improve, your risk for stroke and obesity will be lower, and your mood and memory will benefit.
Diagnosing and Treating Magnesium Deficiency
It is more common for older adults to be affected by magnesium deficiencies, since reduced levels of gastric acid in the digestive system can affect the availability of the minerals in your body. The simplest solution to this is to begin taking magnesium supplements to combat your risk for developing the condition.
There are tests your doctor can perform to check the magnesium levels in your body. If you are experiencing any of the classic signs and symptoms, meet with your doctor as soon as possible to see if magnesium deficiency is what is causing your problems.
If you are officially diagnosed with magnesium deficiency, you are able to begin magnesium therapy and magnesium supplements in order to get your magnesium levels back where they should be. Additionally, you should avoid large quantities of carbonated beverages, sweet foods, stress, caffeine, and alcoholic beverages. This is because in large amounts, these things have been shown to reduce the levels of magnesium in your body.
