Hypomagnesemia

Question 1

Causes

Answer 1

Causes include alcoholism, starvation, diarrhea, increased urinary loss, and poor absorption from the intestines.[2] Hypomagnesemia is not necessarily magnesium deficiency. Specific electrocardiogram (ECG) changes may be seen.[2]

Question 2

Signs and symptoms

Answer 2

Deficiency of magnesium can cause tiredness, generalized weakness, muscle cramps, abnormal heart rhythms, increased irritability of the nervous system with tremors, paresthesias, palpitations, hypokalemia, hypoparathyroidism which might result in hypocalcemia, chondrocalcinosis, spasticity and tetany, migraines, epileptic seizures, basal ganglia calcifications and in extreme and prolonged cases coma, intellectual disability or death.[3] Other symptoms that have been suggested to be associated with hypomagnesemia are athetosis, jerking, nystagmus, and an extensor plantar reflex, confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, depression, hypertension and fast heart rate.[citation needed]