Getting Started With a Magnesium Deficiency

Table of Contents

1. What Happens When You Have a Magnesium Deficiency
2. Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency
3. What Causes Magnesium Deficiency?
4. Diagnosing Magnesium Deficiency
5. Treating Magnesium Deficiency
6. Preventing Magnesium Deficiency

For those who suffer from a chronic condition or find themselves getting sick frequently, one culprit can be a deficiency in a vitamin, mineral, or essential nutrient. According to one study, at least 31 percent of people in the United States are at risk for at least one vitamin deficiency or anemia. Vitamins play a huge role in maintaining overall health by supporting essential bodily functions and strengthening your immune system.

A common issue seen in the United States and around the world is magnesium deficiency. A deficiency in this vital nutrient sometimes goes unnoticed and can have many adverse health effects. Also, without enough of this nutrient in your system, you might miss out on some great magnesium benefits, such as stress relief and increased energy. 

After all, magnesium is a very important element in the human body, supporting the function of enzymes and good cardiovascular health. Though the percentage of magnesium-deficient individuals is up for debate, studies have found it to be a public health issue that needs to be addressed.

In the next section, we’ll go over some of the issues that might occur with magnesium deficiency. 

What Happens When You Have a Magnesium Deficiency 

A magnesium deficiency is when your body doesn’t have enough magnesium in it to support your health. These low levels of magnesium could be due to several factors, but long-term factors such as alcoholism and taking certain medications can heighten your risk of developing a magnesium deficiency. 

This deficiency in your body can lead to health problems such as:

• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Headaches and migraines
• Osteoporosis

Though low magnesium in your body might lead to dangerous health conditions such as these over the long term, it can also cause unpleasant symptoms in the short term. The next section will go over some symptoms of magnesium deficiency.

Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency

A magnesium deficiency in the human body can cause a number of symptoms. Some common symptoms include feeling generally fatigued, experiencing nausea, and losing your appetite. The following are a few of the other commonly reported symptoms:

• Hyperexcitability
• Abnormal heart rhythms
• Muscle spasms
• Shaking
• Feeling weak
• Vomiting
• Feeling pins and needles

If you’re feeling any of these magnesium deficiency symptoms, it might be worth looking into the issue further. Determining if you have any of the causes of magnesium deficiencies is a good start.

What Causes Magnesium Deficiency?

As we related before, a magnesium deficiency can be caused by a number of factors. Alcoholism and certain medications are known contributors to deficiencies in magnesium and other nutrients.

You may be genetically predisposed to be magnesium deficient or have a chronic condition that contributes to it. Diseases such as type 2 diabetes and Crohn’s disease have been known to cause magnesium deficiencies in the body. 

Other causes of magnesium deficiency could be kidney issues, diuretics, specific medications such as ones for acid reflux and GERD, and a generally poor diet. If you’re experiencing a magnesium deficiency, determining what the cause is can go a long way in figuring out the best treatment plan. First, though, you’ll want to determine if you really are deficient in magnesium.

Diagnosing Magnesium Deficiency

So, how do you find out if your body is low on magnesium? The best way is to visit the doctor and ask them to run a few tests. Typically, your doctor will perform a blood test, especially if you are experiencing some of the symptoms, such as nausea, weakness, and abnormal heart rhythms. Occasionally, a urine test may also be performed to determine magnesium levels.

Although it doesn’t replace an official diagnosis, you can also check your magnesium levels with some home micronutrient tests, which will help you determine if you want to follow up with your doctor.

If you find out you are magnesium deficient, the next step is to determine a good treatment plan. We will go over possible treatments in the next section.

Treating Magnesium Deficiency

There are several ways you can treat a magnesium deficiency. For one, you can consistently take a magnesium supplement. Magnesium supplements are available in powder and capsule forms. This can often be enough to restore the natural balance of magnesium the body needs for optimal health. If you also get enough magnesium in your diet, there shouldn’t be much to worry about.

IV therapy can help to support your magnesium goals as well. Since it bypasses your digestive system, it can introduce magnesium more efficiently into your system. Oftentimes, when magnesium supplements aren’t enough, IV treatment is used to increase the body’s nutrient absorption. 

Schedule Appointment Today

Preventing Magnesium Deficiency

Eating a healthy and diverse diet is the first step towards preventing a magnesium deficiency in the future. Some magnesium-rich foods you can include in your diet are legumes, nuts, whole grains, and various seeds.

Receiving consistent IV therapy can also help you avoid a magnesium deficiency in the future while supporting your overall health at the same time. At Lone Star IV Medics, we offer mobile IV therapy across the great state of Texas, providing our customers with safe and effective treatment for nutrient deficiencies and various adverse symptoms. We come straight to your location, providing you with medical-quality IV care without having to leave the comfort of your home or hotel room.

If you’re interested in exploring IV therapy to support healthy magnesium levels or other essential vitamins and minerals, call us or use our online appointment tool. We can talk you through the various IV packages we offer, helping you determine what type of therapy will work best for your particular health goals.