Calcium

[Poppy451]

I am on calcium channel blockers, does this block calcium getting to the heart only or the entire body? Is there any point in taking calcium supplements? Just wondering..

[Yumz199725]

I'm on a calcium channel blocker aswell I'm on verapamil 40mg x2 a day, what one are you on x

[Poppy451 in reply to Yumz199725]

I am on diltaizem twice daily.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Calcium channel blockers don't stop you absorbing calcium in to your body. They work by blocking the entry of calcium into the smooth muscle cells making up the walls of the arteries and heart muscle itself.

This leads to the blood vessels relaxing, lowering blood pressure and helps reduce coronary vasospasms.

[Poppy451 in reply to Milkfairy]

Thanks

[Etblue in reply to Milkfairy]

Hi milkfairy, great to read your post, always so informative. I was concerned because its been so long since your last post.Hope you have a great Christmas. Thanks for all your posts

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Etblue]

Thank for your kind words and thoughts.I hope you have a lovely Christmas and Happy New Year!

[richard_jw in reply to Milkfairy]

Hi Milkfairy, do calcium channel blockers work solely on heart artery muscle? Or can they affect smooth muscle elsewhere in the body?

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to richard_jw]

Yes, calcium channel blockers effect all the smooth muscles in the body.Any hollow or tube like organ in the body is made up of smooth muscle eg intestines, bladder, uterus, ureters, bile and pancreatic ducts etc

Calcium channel blockers, CCB relax the smooth muscles of the gut slowing down the flow of the contents, hence constipation being a side effect of CCBs.

Thank goodness for prunes 😊

[Tos92]

My understanding is that calcium channel blockers (CCBs) reduce calcium from entering the heart and arteries. There is more information about this on the BHF below which goes into more detail. CCBs can be used for a number of cardiac conditions such as high blood pressure, coronary artery spasms which is what I have, and maintaining a stable heart rhythm.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo....

All the best.

Tos

[Poppy451 in reply to Tos92]

Thanks yes the link was very informative aswell. It also says I can take oral calcium supplements too ( which I should be taking for osteopenia) . It's a bit confusing that it only effects calcium absorption of the heart blood vessels. That's the magic of modern medicine I guess.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Poppy451]

It's the magic of the human body too!

Calcium is absorbed in a different way into the bones.

Are you also taking Vitamin D as it helps with the absorption of calcium.

HRT can also play a part in reducing osteopenia, the thining of bones that occurs in post menopausal women.

Another way of improving your bone density is by walking.

[Poppy451 in reply to Milkfairy]

Yes I am taking vitamin D thanks.

I also heard vitamin K2 helps the calcium to go into the bones and not the heart (just to add to the confusion).

I am not taking any form of HRT after the terrible time I was having a few weeks ago on it.

I do a fair amount of walking.

[Partner20 in reply to Poppy451]

Vit.K2 is an important co-factor to take with Vit.D, but K2 must be avoided by anyone on warfarin and certain other meds, so check for any interactions first.

[Quaddie in reply to Poppy451]

Hi I have osteopenia too that has come on over past 2 years I blamed the snris i was taking. My blood pressure tablet before TTS was Felopodine not sure if that's a channel blocker ?

[fishonabike in reply to Quaddie]

it is fairly easy to get information on many medications from NHS online or simply by doing a search - here is the NHS info on Felopidipine: nhs.uk/medicines/felodipine....

it is a good idea to find out about any newly prescribed medication so that you are aware of potential side effects and other relevant issues

[Bluehope81]

Channel here does not mean artery channels or heart channels, The calcium channel blockers act by blocking the influx of calcium ions into blood vessels smooth MUSCLE and heart MUSCLE. Because muscle contractions are largely dependent upon influx of calcium, this relaxes the muscles, lowering blood pressure.

It does not block calcium to the heart or to the body.

The "Channel" here is referring to the microscopic layer on the muscle cells surface letting electrolytes in and out as the cells go about their daily business, and that's how it all comes together.

[Hidden]

As Poppy 451 has said taking K2 with the calcium, helps to divert the calcium to your bones where it is needed and not the heart, so it's a good thing to take!

[Partner20 in reply to Hidden]

Absolutely, unless you are on warfarin and certain other meds. Always best to check for any interactions with K2.