Magnesium Deficiency

Magnesium deficiency is not an independent clinical picture, but an acute or chronic deficiency. However, it can trigger and cause various clinical pictures and functional disorders in the body. In most cases, the magnesium deficiency initially goes unnoticed. It is generally assumed that food contains enough magnesium.

Magnesium Deficiency

What is magnesium deficiency?

According to Theinternetfaqs, magnesium deficiency is defined as not having enough magnesium in the body. No deficiency can be seen in the blood count, because there is always a homeostasis of all required substances in the blood.

This means that all the required nutrients are available in the required quantities. If they are not supplied through food, the organism uses them in the body’s own depots or from bones, teeth and tissue. An acute magnesium deficiency is more likely to be inferred from other symptoms, such as leg cramps after exercise or in old age.

However, chronic magnesium deficiency represents a different problem. It has so far received little attention from medicine. Chronic magnesium deficiency can be involved in the development of numerous functional disorders in the body.

Causes

Exercising, heavy sweating, poor diet and increasing age are possible causes of an acute or chronic magnesium deficiency. A high-sugar, low-nutrient diet that is accompanied by dehydrating drinks can already trigger a magnesium deficiency.

Nutritionists blame industrially processed food, depleted and over-fertilized soil, damaged plants, incorrect food preparation methods and poor diet for magnesium deficiency. Added to this is the fact that the absorption of magnesium depends on other vitamins. If these are not supplied sufficiently, a magnesium deficiency occurs even with a generally good supply.

Some of these vitamins are also eliminated during cooking or frying. The countless chemical pollutants to which humans are exposed often do the rest. Magnesium deficiency is therefore regarded by numerous scientists as a widespread disease. However, the majority of doctors deny that there is a magnesium deficiency at all.

Symptoms, Ailments & Signs

The symptoms of an acute magnesium deficiency are usually cramps. However, a deficiency situation can also remain completely without symptoms. In addition to cramps in the legs or toes, other complaints can also be reported. These do not always indicate a magnesium deficiency. They are too unspecific for that.

In addition to calf cramps, a lack of magnesium can also cause muscle twitching. As one of the most important muscles in the body, the heart can also suffer from a magnesium deficiency. This may manifest itself in symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations or tachycardia, exhaustion, inexplicable tiredness or inner restlessness. With a healthy diet rich in vital substances, there should actually be neither palpitations nor palpitations.

However, due to age, stress or certain illnesses, the consumption of minerals can be higher than usual. In this case, an acute magnesium deficiency can develop. An acute magnesium deficiency can also lead to unspecific digestive problems such as constipation or diarrhea and headaches.

Nobody attributes such symptoms to a lack of minerals without reason. If the symptoms are unclear, you should consult a doctor if they persist for a long time. If symptoms are suspected that could indicate a magnesium deficiency, only a blood test can provide information. Magnesium deficiency is particularly common in pregnant women. Self-treatment is not recommended.

Diagnosis & History

You often make the diagnosis of an acute magnesium deficiency yourself. However, a chronic magnesium deficiency only becomes noticeable through illness. Nervous system, muscles, blood vessels, kidneys, immune system or skin depend on the absorption of magnesium. For them, magnesium deficiency means a reduction in their activities.

If the magnesium deficiency is temporary, a chronic deficiency of a mild kind develops over a long period of time. At the same time, magnesium absorption and utilization is reduced with age. Thanks to an unbalanced and low-mineral diet, nutrition-related diseases arise. The magnesium deficiency involved is often not specifically diagnosed or considered.

American studies have shown that more than half of the subjects examined in a study had a serious magnesium deficiency. The previously recommended daily dose of this mineral already seems to trigger a magnesium deficiency.

In the course of this deficiency, numerous diseases develop, the origin of which is usually not attributed to a magnesium deficiency. Naturally, the magnesium deficiency does not have to be the only cause.

Complications

In general, a magnesium deficiency has a very negative effect on the patient’s health. This can lead to serious complications, which, however, depend heavily on the severity of the deficiency. In most cases, however, the magnesium deficiency can be counteracted very easily and quickly, so that consequential damage can be avoided relatively well.

Those affected primarily suffer from fatigue and exhaustion. The immune system is also weakened by this deficiency, so that inflammation or infections occur more frequently. The wound healing of the affected person is also significantly delayed. However, the further course of this complaint depends heavily on the cause of this defect, so that it is usually not possible to make a general prediction.

In most cases, magnesium deficiency is treated with a strict diet. Success is achieved relatively quickly and the symptoms disappear after a few days. If the condition is chronic in nature and the root cause cannot be treated, the sufferer must take supplements. There are no complications. If the treatment is successful, no further complications arise.

When should you go to the doctor?

If cramps appear repeatedly, a check-up visit should take place with a doctor. If the cramps occur in the extremities, this often indicates a deficiency that should be clarified. Sudden problems with locomotion due to the existing impairments increase the general risk of accidents and must be treated in good time. Twitching or other irregularities in muscle fibers are other indicators of a health disorder that should be evaluated by a doctor.

Exhaustion, increased tiredness, exhaustion or fatigue are causes for concern. If the symptoms persist for several weeks or months, a doctor’s visit is necessary. Disorders of the heart rhythm, lack of energy or a decrease in the usual physical performance must be examined and treated by a doctor. Headaches, listlessness and changes in behavior indicate discrepancies that require action.

Disorders of the digestive tract, dizziness or tachycardia are signs of an existing health problem that should be clarified by a doctor. In the event of inner restlessness, abnormal behavior or difficulties in coping with everyday life, the person concerned needs medical help. The loss of well-being, mood swings, listlessness and withdrawal from the social environment indicate an impairment that can be identified in medicalTestingshould be examined more closely.

Treatment & Therapy

The treatment of magnesium deficiency consists of oral administration of magnesium in acute cases. Otherwise, however, the diet must be checked for magnesium deficiency. An unbalanced and high-sugar diet with cola, sweets, sweet pastries, fast food and frozen portions automatically leads to a magnesium deficiency.

Chronic overacidification of the organism occurs. Calcium and magnesium are primarily used to neutralize acids. Hyperacidity can be reversed with predominantly alkaline food. The basic treatment for magnesium deficiency is therefore always a change in diet.

Instead of industrially processed food, you choose natural and unprocessed food. In addition, diseases caused by hyperacidity and magnesium deficiency must be treated individually. Here, the administration of magnesium alone is often not enough. Magnesium deficiency is part of a disease process that is more complex.

Outlook & Forecast

A magnesium deficiency can generally be remedied quickly. A change in diet and a temporary supply of magnesium can be expected to compensate for the deficiency symptoms. It should be noted, however, that magnesium deficiency is not an independent clinical picture. In most cases, the deficiency indicates the presence of another underlying disease. Therefore, the magnesium deficiency is usually only temporarily compensated for until the cause of the development has been found and eliminated.

If the deficiency can be traced back to improper nutrition, the intake of the nutrients should be monitored. This is particularly advisable for athletes or people who do vigorous physical activity. Freedom from symptoms is achieved if a diet rich in vital substances and low in sugar takes place. If the deficiency manifests itself as a result of mental stress or severe stress, cooperation with a therapist should be sought.

If left untreated, it usually remains in a constant temporal portion. Stressors must be minimized and experiences should be processed well so that the organism’s consumption of nutrients is properly regulated again. If there is an age-related cause, medical treatment should also be sought. The organism changes its consumption over the life span and must be supported in some phases of life by the administration of medicines in order to achieve freedom from symptoms.

Prevention

The best prevention of magnesium deficiency is a balanced diet rich in vital substances with a high proportion of whole grains, fruit and vegetables. Just drinking good mineral or medicinal water can supply the daily requirement of magnesium.

At the same time, however, you have to supply all the necessary accompanying substances that are necessary for magnesium absorption. If you have a magnesium deficiency, you should avoid fluorinated toothpaste, mineral water and table salt.

Aftercare

In severe cases, magnesium deficiency can lead to cardiac arrhythmia. Other consequences of magnesium deficiency are muscle tension, calf cramps, fatigue, gastrointestinal problems and dizziness. Sometimes there are only psychological symptoms such as inner restlessness, increased irritability, difficulty concentrating, loss of interest and apathy or nervousness. Many important processes in the body can be impaired by a permanent magnesium deficiency.

This includes, for example, the working of muscles and heart, the strength of bones and teeth, the functions of the nervous system, the excitability of nerve and muscle cells, the structure of our genetic material and DNA. The metabolism is impaired overall, since magnesium is responsible for numerous metabolic processes.

If the magnesium deficiency persists, it can have serious consequences for the body. Especially in older people, this causes cardiac arrhythmias, an accelerated heartbeat and myocardial insufficiency. In addition, there is a sharp drop in weight and the ability to think is significantly slowed down. In pregnant women, magnesium deficiency is extremely dangerous.

If the pregnant woman suffers from magnesium deficiency, this can lead to muscle cramps, muscle twitching, persistent muscle tremors, sensory disturbances or movement disorders. Severe magnesium deficiency can also lead to premature labor or miscarriage.

You can do that yourself

A magnesium deficiency can usually be remedied by changing your eating habits and making small lifestyle adjustments. It is advisable to include foods with a lot of magnesium in your diet – i.e. pumpkin seeds, cocoa, legumes or sesame, among other things. Bananas, couscous and nettle are also suitable and usually sufficient to compensate for a slight deficiency.

In the case of severe deficiency symptoms, the doctor can also prescribe dietary supplements. Suitable preparations are magnesium chelate, magnesium orotate or mineral powder with active ingredients from the Sango sea coral. Belladonna and Colocynth are alternatives from homeopathy. In addition to these dietary measures, it is important to determine the causes of the magnesium deficiency. Sometimes the symptoms are caused by an illness that needs to be diagnosed and treated by a doctor. Excessive sweating during sport and regular alcohol consumption can also be triggers. Both can be counteracted by changing habits.

In the case of the typical symptoms, a doctor should always be consulted. The doctor can ensure that the magnesium deficiency is not problematic and can provide further tips and measures on how the magnesium reserves in the body can be replenished quickly.