Magnesium deficiency is often unidentifiable unless it starts showing intense symptoms. The food we have is mostly not balanced and lacks important elements, such as magnesium. You can develop a magnesium deficiency unknowingly. However, it can affect the body if not taken care of adequately at the right time. Let’s understand the symptoms of low magnesium so that you can identify the deficiency and can start taking care of it instantly.

What is magnesium deficiency?

The body is diagnosed to be magnesium deficient when it lacks the adequate amount of magnesium that is imperative for the body to function properly.

Magnesium is important for the body, as it helps the nerves and muscles to work properly and maintains sugar levels and blood pressure. It also helps develop our body’s DNA, bones, and protein. There is a low risk of having magnesium deficiency in the body, and even then, magnesium deficiency in adults is rare. But in case the body’s magnesium level pertains to lower levels for a very long time, it can cause serious health issues.

Some of the problems you may face if you have low magnesium levels in your body:

Irregular blood pressure

Heart diseases

Diabetes

Migraine headaches

Osteoporosis

Symptoms of low magnesium

People generally tend to ignore bestowing their bodies with sufficient levels of magnesium. They often care about magnesium levels only when they start facing problems or symptoms. Here are some of the indicators that signal magnesium deficiency:

Twitching of muscles or cramps

Twitches or cramps in muscles are the signs of having low magnesium in the body. If there is a magnesium deficiency, it can even cause seizures. Though supplements can relieve the pain, they cannot fulfill the deficiency of magnesium in the body. One should keep in mind that regular twitches or cramps may also lead to other problems. And if they occur at regular intervals, you should get the magnesium levels checked.

Osteoporosis

This disorder is generally experienced by people who have weak bones that are likely to get fractured. It is generally caused due to the aging factor, lack of regular exercise in your routine, and not including vitamin D and K in meals. It impacts the bones directly or can reduce the blood levels of calcium, which is essential for maintaining bone health. Studies have found that the deficiency of magnesium can lead to the reduction of bone mineral density.

Mental health conditions

Some symptoms of low magnesium include mental numbness and lack of emotions. Other problems such as depression and anxiety can also be caused by magnesium deficiency. This affects the overall mental health of an individual. In the worst case, problems such as delirium and coma can also be caused.

Fatigue
Feeling tired or exhausted physically or mentally is also a sign of low magnesium. If the weakness or fatigue persists for a long time, it can mean that your body lacks the required magnesium levels. However, fatigue alone cannot help identify magnesium deficiency; a combination of other symptoms can. Weakness in the muscles is also a sign of low magnesium.

Irregular heartbeat

One of the most serious effects of magnesium deficiency is heart arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat. It is also characterized by shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, fainting, and dizziness.

High blood pressure
Magnesium deficiency also causes problems such as high blood pressure, which greatly risks the heart’s health.

Asthma

Magnesium deficiency and asthma are interrelated. People with asthma often have lower magnesium levels, which results in a buildup of calcium in the airways of the lungs, making breathing difficult.

Causes of magnesium deficiency

Some of the most common causes or risk factors of magnesium deficiency include:

Problems in the kidney

Usage of drugs (for ulcers or reflux)

Persistent vomiting or diarrhea

Digestive issues

Poor, improperly balanced meals

After diagnosing magnesium deficiency, it is important to start the cure for it instantly. While the doctors may suggest the best magnesium supplements to you, you should try incorporating magnesium-rich foods to cure the issue naturally. These include leafy green vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains. Also, ensure that you are consuming the prescribed foods more than required because too much magnesium can also cause problems, such as vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal cramps.

To ensure that problems such as low magnesium do not occur, you should take care of your meal regimen and build up a good exercise regime. And in case you get to witness the symptoms of low magnesium, you should take the requisite action and visit the nearest doctor or nutritionist for consultation.