What happens in the body when magnesium deficiency?

The body needs magnesium to complete many vital functions, from the risk of developing some diseases due to the lack of concentration of magnesium in the body for a long time.

Magnesium deficiency is an unusual health condition, but many humans might also additionally be afflicted by it. What are the signs of magnesium deficiency?

Usually, symptoms of magnesium deficiency do not appear on a person until the deficiency becomes severe, which may lead to complications, some of which are serious.

In the following, we will review these symptoms of magnesium deficiency:

Magnesium deficiency symptoms

Among the most important symptoms of magnesium deficiency that some individuals may experience are the following:

• Muscle spasm

Muscle cramps and strange twitches are sometimes symptoms of magnesium deficiency, and in the worst cases magnesium deficiency can cause seizures.

Scientists believe that the reason here is the influx of calcium in large quantities into the nerve cells, which causes the overstimulation of neurons in the muscles.

It is worth noting that magnesium supplementation may be sufficient to treat deficiency in adults and younger people, while it may not work in the case of older adults.

Other conditions that may cause muscle spasms include:

• Stress.
• Increase the extent of caffeine in the body.
• Take certain medications.
• Neurological disease, such as: craniofacial dystrophy.

• Psychiatric illness

Magnesium deficiency may cause some mental illnesses, such as:

1. Indifference: which is defined psychologically as numbness of feelings.
2. Depression: the deficiency increases the chances of developing it.
3. Insomnia: Although research is still in its infancy to assert the association of magnesium deficiency with it.
4. Delirium: Severe magnesium deficiency causes delirium or even coma.

• Osteoporosis

There are many factors that may increase the chances of developing osteoporosis, and these include:

1. getting older
2. Not exercising.
3. Low ranges of vitamin D and vitamin K.
4. Magnesium deficiency.

Magnesium deficiency may not only weaken the bones, but may also reduce the levels of calcium in the blood, which is an important component of bone building, and some studies in mice have indicated that magnesium deficiency may lead to a decrease in bone mass.

• Fatigue and general muscle weakness

Fatigue is a health condition that may be psychological or physical, and it may sometimes be a sign of magnesium deficiency in the body, and although general fatigue may not often mean more than that you simply need rest, severe and persistent fatigue may be a sign of health problem.

It is worth noting that fatigue alone is not considered a symptom of a specific health problem unless it is accompanied by other symptoms. In the case of magnesium deficiency, general fatigue is usually associated with muscle weakness, a health condition called myasthenia.

Scientists believe that the reason for what is happening here is that magnesium deficiency leads to low potassium levels in muscle cells, which may cause muscle weakness and general weakness.

• High blood pressure

Studies conducted by animal researchers found that magnesium deficiency may cause a rise in blood pressure, which may increase the chances of heart disease.

Other studies have also found that taking magnesium supplements helped lower blood pressure levels in people who took them regularly, but the link between blood pressure and magnesium deficiency is still being studied.

• Asthma

The researchers suggest that magnesium deficiency may cause calcium to accumulate in the muscles that extend over the lining of the airways and lungs, which may cause constriction of the airways, and thus breathing difficulties.

Notably, magnesium levels are usually low in asthmatics.

• Heart rhythm disturbance

This is the most serious symptom of magnesium deficiency, as a person may develop heart arrhythmia, which, although not dangerous for some, may cause many health problems for others.

Although arrhythmia may not have any symptoms, it can sometimes cause the following things:

1. dizziness and lightheadedness.
2. breathlessness.
3. fainting.
4. pain in chest.

In some severe cases, arrhythmias may increase the chances of heart failure or heart attack.

Damage caused by magnesium deficiency in the body

1. Irritability, anxiety, crying, nervous system disorder and even depression.
2. Diabetes, as a result of cravings for sweets and the development of insulin resistance.
3. Increased tiredness and fatigue, because the cells cannot produce enough energy.
4. Bone diseases, caused by calcium deficiency, because when magnesium is deficient, the body cannot absorb it.
5. Cramps in the legs, because the large muscles contain a "magnesium depot" and become very sensitive to its deficiency.
6. Headache for no reason, distracted focus and poor memory, as a result of narrowing of the blood vessels and the brain not getting a complete "nutrition".

Rich sources of magnesium

Eating the following foods may be enough to get you your daily magnesium intake:

• Pumpkin seeds.
• Almonds.
• pistachio.
• popcorn.
• Flaxseeds.
• chia seeds
• cashew nuts.
• hazelnut.
• oats.
• Whole grains.
• Leafy vegetables.

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