Calcium is a chemical element essential for various bodily functions, while calcification is a process where calcium builds up in soft tissues, causing them to harden.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
-
Calcium:
- Is a naturally occurring mineral (chemical element with the symbol Ca).
- Plays a vital role in bone and teeth structure, muscle function, nerve transmission, blood clotting, and hormone secretion.
- Is obtained through diet, primarily from dairy products, leafy green vegetables, and fortified foods.
-
Calcification:
-
Is a process where calcium salts accumulate in soft tissues, organs, or blood vessels.
-
Can be a normal physiological process, such as bone formation, or an abnormal pathological process.
-
Abnormal calcification can occur due to various factors, including inflammation, injury, genetic disorders, and metabolic imbalances.
-
Examples of pathological calcification include:
- Arterial calcification: Hardening of the arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease.
- Kidney stones: Calcium deposits in the kidneys.
- Breast calcifications: Calcium deposits in breast tissue, which may or may not be cancerous.
- Calcific tendinitis: Calcium deposits in tendons, causing pain and inflammation.
-
In essence, calcium is the substance, and calcification is the process of that substance depositing and hardening tissues where it shouldn't normally be in high concentrations.
