Calcium is an important mineral in the body, and one that is tightly regulated in the blood with the help of several hormones. Calcium status plays an important role in the health of bones and a variety of other metabolic functions. Therefore, it is essential to understand where to find calcium in food, and what factors affect bioavailability and absorption. Match the words to the appropriate sentences.

1. Over 99% of the body's calcium is in the bones and teeth.
2. When blood calcium is low, the parathyroid glands stimulate the production of parathyroid hormone (PTH).
3. Bone density refers to the compactness and strength of bones. 4. Osteoclasts break down bone when calcium levels are low.
5. The bioavailability of calcium can depend on a person's age and calcium needs.
6. Too much calcium in the blood, or hypercalcemia, can lead to impaired kidneys and calcium deposits in the body.
7. Certain foods like spinach are high in oxalates, which can interfere with absorption of certain minerals.

a. calcium
b. bioavailability
c. osteoclasts
d. hypercalcemia
e. parathyroid hormone (PTH)
f. oxalates
g. bone density
h. osteoblasts

Choose thyroid, parathyroid, or the adrenal gland and choose one disease affecting this part of the en-docrine system.

A35-year-old woman comes to the ed complaining of chest pressure. she has had such episodes intermittently over the last 5 years, usually when sleeping, but over the last year she has had more frequent severe symptoms that are occasionally associated with severe migraine headaches. the pain is midsternal and is described as pressure that extends as a band around her chest. the ed physician is initially dubious that the pain is cardiac in origin, because the woman has no coronary disease risk factors. an ecg, however, shows 2mm st-segment elevation and inverted t waves in leads v1 through v5 and 1mm st-segment depression in leads ii, iii, and avf. before the cardiologist arrives in the ed, the patient's ecg has returned to normal. this repeat normal ecg is obtained after the administration of aspirin, nitroglycerin, morphine, and oxygen. which of the following is most likely for these findings? - diffuse intimal thickening with focal areas of atherosclerotic narrowing - intermittent thrombus formation and lysis in the left anterior descending artery - intermittent thrombus formation and lysis in the right coronary artery - plaque rupture and thrombus formation in the left anterior descending artery - transiently increased coronary vascular tone in the right coronary artery

Avoiding excess salt and sodium may benefit a person’s health by