Central nervous system magnesium deficiency

Article Abstract:

A group of high school football players were given calcium supplements prior to a game, and one hour later, several of the athletes became disoriented, had difficulty walking, and exhibited slurred speech; some also had seizures. Their symptoms were remarkably similar to a condition in farm animals called grass tetany. Grass tetany generally occurs in the spring when the animals are allowed to graze on grass after having been fed grains all winter. Grains are deficient in calcium and magnesium, and a diet of grains leads the animals to become calcium and magnesium deficient. Grass, on the other hand, is rich in calcium. An investigation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that the athletes' diets consisted mostly of fast foods, which are generally low in magnesium and calcium. If humans (and animals) are deficient in calcium and magnesium, the parathyroid glands produce parathyroid hormone, which releases these minerals from bone in order to maintain adequate levels in the blood. If the condition persists, the bone stores become depleted. A large dose of dietary calcium suppresses parathyroid hormone; the minerals are then removed from the blood and stored in bone. The 'hungry bone' removes large amounts of magnesium from the blood, which also causes the cerebrospinal fluid to become magnesium-deficient. This process leads to the symptoms seen in the athletes and cattle. Two additional cases of hypomagnesemia (decreased magnesium in the blood) occurred in two elderly women. One had a poor diet, and was taking calcium carbonate supplements. She was admitted to the hospital because she became disoriented, had difficulty walking, and had slurred speech. She was given intramuscular magnesium injections every six hours for several days before her condition improved. The second woman suffered diarrhea following abdominal surgery; her blood magnesium dropped, and she became confused, disoriented, and had a seizure. Her condition returned to normal after 10 days of magnesium treatment. In severely magnesium-deficient patients, mental status will not improve until the magnesium in bone has been replenished. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Causes of, Complications and side effects, Central nervous system diseases, Calcium, Calcium (Chemical element), Magnesium, Magnesium (Metal), Hypocalcemia

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Immigrants and health care: mounting problems

Article Abstract:

Health care reform must provide universal access to both citizens and immigrants to reduce the eventual need for costly medical care. The largest and most rapidly increasing group of U.S. immigrants is from Latin America or Asia. Overall, these immigrants are healthier than U.S.-born people, although this health advantage declines as their length of stay in the U.S. increases. Lack of access to health care and exposure to U.S. lifestyles contribute to the development of chronic, costly diseases. As immigrants' health deteriorates, they are at an increasing risk of poverty which then presents barriers to medical care. In the 1990's, there is some public support for denying public health services to immigrants for economic reasons. This proposition is unethical, unsafe, and more expensive in the long run.

Health aspects, Editorial, Standards, Immigrants, Health care reform, Illegal immigrants

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