Introduction
Magnesium is a metal that occurs in the body as a mineral and fulfils vital functions. Magnesium is involved in numerous metabolic processes and its function is closely related to that of calcium. It slows down the function of the calcium, which takes over functions especially in the muscles, the nerve cells but also numerous other organs.
The magnesium level can be measured in the circulating blood, although only a small portion of the mineral is outside the body cells. A magnesium deficiency can have various causes, most of which are related to a disturbed absorption or supply of magnesium in the intestines. The resulting symptoms can be different for each person and can present themselves differently, especially in different age groups.
These are the typical symptoms of magnesium deficiency
The first signs of a magnesium deficiency appear mainly in the muscles and heart. Typical symptoms are muscle cramps and muscle twitches, so-called “tetanus“, which are due to overexcitability of the muscles. Due to the lack of magnesium, calcium can accumulate in the cells, which leads to a faster or permanent activation of the affected cells.
At the heart, spontaneous additional heartbeats as well as delays in the excitation conduction can occur early on. Although these are rarely consciously noticed, they can typically be detected early in the ECG examination. As the disease progresses, neurological symptoms such as irritability, restlessness, tiredness or confusion may follow.
A magnesium deficiency can be responsible for dry skin. The skin is subject to many harmful influences every day. Numerous regeneration and repair processes maintain the intact skin barrier and protect the skin.
Magnesium can relieve small inflammatory processes on the skin and act as an antioxidant. As a result, it not only prevents the skin from drying out, but also promotes hair growth, acts against pimples, inflammatory skin diseases and rashes and smoothes the skin. Many cosmetic products for the skin also contain magnesium.
Cramps are one of the most typical symptoms of magnesium deficiency. At the muscle, the mineral directly counteracts hyperexcitability through inflowing calcium in the muscle cells. In the case of a magnesium deficiency, on the other hand, the muscle can be severely stressed and tense even by small exertions, which can manifest itself as an unpleasant and painful cramp.
Athletes in particular, but also people who are under a lot of strain, stressed or pregnant, lose a lot of magnesium in everyday life, which is why muscle cramps can occur despite sufficient intake of the mineral. In these cases, only a deliberate increase in the magnesium intake through certain foods or dietary supplements can help. Headaches are a very unspecific symptom from which every person suffers occasionally.
Frequently occurring headaches or even migraines can, however, be due to a magnesium deficiency. The nerve cells are also in a close balance of minerals and electrolytes. The magnesium deficiency disturbs the fragile balance and the nerve cells can become excited, which can cause numerous neurological symptoms.
The sensitive nerve cells of the meninges can easily become irritated and trigger a pain impulse. In these cases, even a slightly increased intake of magnesium can relieve the frequent headaches. Muscle twitching is closely associated with the so-called “tetany”, the muscle cramps.
Both of these indicate excitability of the muscle without clear signals from the nerves. The excitation and activity of the muscles is always accompanied by an influx of calcium into the cells. In order to relax the muscle in rest phases, magnesium maintains a balance in which the cells cannot be excited.
The magnesium deficiency thus leads to twitching, cramps and subsequent pain in the muscles due to unconscious strain. Small magnesium deficiencies can occur, particularly as a result of heavy strain during stress or after sport. The body’s sensitive nerve cells can transmit signals to the brain through pressure, vibration and small touches of the skin, resulting in sensitive sensations.
Many different mechanisms can disrupt the sensitive perception on its way to the brain and thus trigger sensations at the affected body part.An example of this is the magnesium deficiency. Due to the low excitation threshold, the nerve cells can be excited apparently without stimulation and cause tingling sensations. A magnesium deficiency can cause tingling sensations, especially in the sensitive areas of the fingers or face.
Brittle fingernails can indicate numerous causes and physical diseases. Besides serious illnesses, harmless mineral or vitamin deficiencies can also be behind them. A magnesium deficiency can also cause damage to fingernails in the form of brittle, brittle and discolored nails.
The magnesium triggers metabolic processes in these nails, hair or bones, which lead to a strengthening and better energy supply of these tissues. Brittle fingernails can particularly affect pregnant women or sportsmen and women who suffer from a latent magnesium deficiency. Digestive problems can often be attributed to a magnesium deficiency and are related to numerous muscular processes in the body.
The main effect of magnesium is on muscle and nerve cells. Digestion also depends on a close interaction between the nerve plexuses and smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract. A severe magnesium deficiency can sometimes cause cramping and spastic movements of the intestinal muscles.
In many cases, these manifest themselves only as digestive problems or slight constipation. In an emergency, however, the entire digestion can be impaired, which can lead to intestinal obstruction. In addition to relaxing the intestinal muscles, the magnesium in the stool causes the water in the stool to be bound, which can soften the stool.
The heart muscles as well as the excitation conduction system of the heart are strongly dependent on the balance of minerals and electrolytes. Even small changes in calcium or potassium levels can cause life-threatening disorders. Magnesium also plays an important role in these processes.
In these cases, the heart muscle may contract involuntarily, not exert adequate force or incorporate irregular beats into the rhythm. Tachycardia is also not uncommon due to the excitability of the heart muscle. These are diseases that require urgent treatment and must be taken seriously and should be treated immediately by a doctor.
Various areas of the brain can also be affected by changes in the mineral balance. In addition to a general hyperexcitability of the nerve cells, which is caused by a magnesium deficiency, individual brain functions can also be disturbed by enzymatic processes. In addition to its effects on the cell, magnesium also participates in numerous chemical reactions in the body, which influence a number of body processes.
In the brain, the functions of the hypothalamus and amygdala can suffer from magnesium deficiency. The amygdala is responsible for feelings of anxiety, whereas the hypothalamus is an important switching function of vital hormones. In addition to feelings of anxiety, this can also lead to listlessness, weakness and a reduced general condition.
This can ultimately cause or aggravate depression. By replacing the magnesium, the hormone levels normalize quickly and the depression also subsides after a short time. The so-called “amygdala” in the brain is primarily responsible for the feeling of fear.
It is typically affected by magnesium deficiency in its function alongside numerous other areas of the brain and organs. Magnesium supports many reactions and metabolic processes in the nerve cells, which are disturbed by magnesium deficiency. This leads to a feeling of anxiety.
Together with a change in hormone levels and other effects on the nerve cells in the brain, severe neurological symptoms can develop. Medical treatment is urgently indicated in the case of neurological involvement. Shaking is one of the most common and typical symptoms of magnesium deficiency.
Symptom combinations of muscle cramps, trembling, tingling, paresthesia, twitching and muscle pain can occur early on. Trembling can often be misinterpreted as muscular strain after sports or in stressful situations. It is precisely in these situations, however, that a magnesium deficiency can develop, which in the following resting phases is manifested as trembling or muscle cramps.
In some cases, even back and joint pain may be associated with a magnesium deficiency.Most people suffer from occasional or permanent pain in the back or joints of the arms and legs. Especially behind the back pain there are muscular problems in the majority of cases, which lead to malpositions, cramps of the back muscles and unpleasant pain. A magnesium deficiency can lead to latent cramping of the back muscles.
This can lead to blockages and severe movement-related pain, which is often misinterpreted as a problem of the intervertebral discs. Tinnitus is a very unpleasant symptom, which has numerous unexplained causes and is very difficult to treat. In many cases, inflammatory or degenerative processes are behind the development of tinnitus.
In a large number of cases, however, no origin of the annoying tinnitus can be determined. There are also receptors on the small hair cells of the inner ear that need magnesium to maintain a balance with other minerals. In the case of magnesium deficiency, the hair cells also become hyperexcitable, which means that sounds can occur apparently without cause.
Magnesium also plays an important role in the therapy of tinnitus, as it reduces the excitability of the cells and can thus break through the tinnitus regardless of the cause. Besides magnesium, numerous minerals and electrolytes are involved in the maintenance of intact skin. The magnesium causes a mineralization of the skin and thereby promotes repair processes of damages that occur to the skin in everyday life of every person.
If the skin lacks these minerals, it cannot regenerate sufficiently from everyday stress, which can cause dark discoloration under the eyes. Especially after a strenuous day or in the morning, dark circles under the eyes are noticeable. During the night many repair processes take place.
Rings under the eyes in the morning indicate a considerable disturbance of the skin’s ability to regenerate. Muscle and nerve cells are the first to be affected by a magnesium deficiency. Besides muscle cramps and twitches, the most common and typical symptoms are nerve dysfunctions.
The reason for this is the hyperexcitability of the nerves, triggered by an increased influx of calcium into the cells. This is normally slowed down by magnesium. As a result, the nerve cells can become excited and transmit sensitive sensations to the brain, even though no sensitive stimulus has taken place.
These sensations can range from tingling and formication to numbness and pain. However, the pain and impairment of the nerve cells are reversible, unlike many similar neurological disorders.
