Calcification

Calcification is a process that occurs to the tissues of the body wherein calcium salts accumulate. Calcification is the buildup of calcium salts in the organs, tissues, and the blood vessels of the body. Though the process of formation of calcium salts in the bones is a normal one, the occurrence in the organs, blood vessels, and the tissues is an abnormality and can lead to varying degrees of complications depending upon the location of the calcification. Calcification can occur in the teeth in the form of tartar, in the kidneys in the form of kidney stones (calculi), in the gallbladder in the form of gallbladder stones, as arthritic bone spurs, in the brain as cranial calcification, in the small and large arteries, in the heart valves, and in the soft tissues of the breasts, and muscles. Calcification can occur due to autoimmune conditions, trauma, infections, tumors, neoplasms and cancers, medications like vitamin D, and conditions like hypercalcemia and hyperparathyroidism. Diabetes causes damage to the blood vessels both small and large. Comorbidities like high blood pressure, and high cholesterol also act as additional risk factors for conditions like vascular calcification and arterial calcification. Diabetes is closely related to cardiovascular diseases. Diabetes is a risk factor for coronary artery calcification, atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, and CVD. The effects of high blood sugar levels over a period of time on vascular smooth muscle cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetes-related vascular calcification. People who consume hard liquor, people who have diabetes, have abnormal lipid levels, high microalbuminuria, high BMI in middle age and inflammatory markers are known to be at risk.