What is calcification?

calcification concerns the accumulation of calcium or calcium salts in tissues where they do not belong. This often leads to tissue hardening that can have unpleasant or dangerous results. The most common is that calcification occurs in the tissue of the breast, in the aortic flap of the heart and in coronary arteries. Tissue, which is dead or degenerate, can also be influenced by calcification.

In breast tissue, calcification is a relatively common process characterized by calcium deposits. This may be due to simple aging, inflammation or foreign object in the tissue such as implants or stitches. There are two main forms of calcification in the breast tissue: macrocalcification and microcalcification. The first is usually the result of breast tissue degeneration that occurs with age, and is usually not a reason for concern. These deposits are gross textures, generally present in women over 50 years of age.

as their name suggests that microcalcification is smaller calcium deposits. These small bearings with aggregujIt is together to clusters and can be a sign of breast cancer. Most of the other forms of calcification take place in the heart.

The valve leading to the aorta from the heart is particularly susceptible to calcification. It has long been assumed as a harmless state, but later research suggests that it may be a sign that the patient already has heart disease, even in the absence of other symptoms. In the early stages, the functioning of the valve itself is not significantly disturbed, but often causes an audible heart murmur. Advanced aortic calcification affects the valve and can to the extent that it can cause chest pain or even a heart attack.

Calcification can also occur in other hearts, for example in arteries. In this case, arterial plakyusazenins of calcium, which form a fragile outer layer above the plaques. Older adults are those who are most prone to calcification of this diversity, especially if you already haveIt eats significant risk factors for heart disease. Some tests can measure the amount of calcium that is present in plaques, but these tests are relatively new and are seriously limited in themselves.

less common forms of calcification can occur in almost any area of ​​the body. Dystrophic calcification concerns what occurs due to mineral deposits that were not caused by elevated calcium levels in the tissue as a whole. On the contrary, when the measured calcium levels are raised in the tissue, the calcium that clips is formed by what is called metastatic calcification in otherwise normal tissue.