Magnesium deficiency, also known as hypomagnesemia, is a common disorder. According to a study, almost 75% of people in the country do not consume the recommended amount of magnesium every day.

Magnesium deficiency is often overlooked, because of which it may go undiagnosed at times. The noticeable symptoms of this condition do not appear until the magnesium levels drop severely.

This deficiency of magnesium can be linked to several health problems like poor absorption of nutrients, diabetes, hungry bone syndrome, celiac disease, and chronic diarrhea.

Causes of low magnesium levels
The two most prominent causes of low magnesium levels are decreased absorption of nutrients and magnesium loss from the body. This loss may occur through the urine.

Magnesium deficiency in otherwise healthy people is a rare thing as the kidneys control the level of magnesium in the body. The kidneys increase or decrease the excretion of magnesium in the urine based on what the body needs.

Consuming a limited quantity of magnesium in your regular diet, excessive loss of magnesium or the occurrence of chronic diseases can contribute to the development of this condition.

Several other factors greatly increase an individual’s risk of developing magnesium deficiency.

• Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases
  Chronic diarrhea, Celiac disease, and Crohn’s disease can affect the absorption of nutrients, resulting in low levels of magnesium in the body.
• Type 2 diabetes
  High concentration of sugar in the blood can make the kidney excrete more urine. Consequently, it can lead to an increased loss of magnesium.
• Excessive alcohol consumption
  Excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to l iver diseases, p oor dietary intake of magnesium, kidney problems, vomiting, pancreatitis, and increased urination which consequently leads to loss of magnesium. All these conditions can affect the level of magnesium in the body.
• Age
  The absorption of magnesium reduces as one grows old. Also, it is seen that older people consume less magnesium-rich foods and are more likely to take medicines like diuretics that can affect the level of magnesium in the body. All of these factors increase the risk of magnesium deficiency.
• Diuretics
  Constant and long-term use of diuretics can result in the loss of essential nutrients like calcium, potassium, and magnesium.

Common symptoms of magnesium deficiency

• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Weakness

As the condition progresses, it can result in severe symptoms like:

• Hypocalcemia, or low levels of calcium
• Hypokalemia, or low levels of potassium
• A tingling sensation in the hands and feet
• Cramping and muscle contractions
• Mood swings
• Seizures
• Irregular heartbeat
• Coronary spasms

Low levels of magnesium in the body for a long time can lead to the development of chronic ailments like h igh blood pressure, h eart conditions, osteoporosis, and type 2 diabetes.

If you experience any symptoms of magnesium deficiency, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Ignoring these symptoms can lead to extremely low levels of magnesium in the body, which can be life-threatening.