Understanding Hyperparathyroidism: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

What is it?

Hyperparathyroidism is a condition in which the levels of the parathyroid hormone in your blood are high.
The parathyroid glands are four small glands, located at the center of your neck. These glands secrete parathyroid (PTH) hormone, which controls the calcium levels in your blood.
Hyperparathyroidism can be primary, when the gland itself produces too much hormones, and causes calcium to build up in your blood. It can also be secondary, when you have an underlying condition which causes your calcium levels to be extremely low and your parathyroid to work overtime in order to get the calcium level back to normal.
If you suffer from hyperparathyroidism you may also suffer from osteoporosis which makes your bone weaker and more likely to break.

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Signs & symptoms

Most people will not have any signs or symptoms.
Other may feel weakness, joint pain, constipation, loss of appetite and inability to concentrate.
More serious symptoms may appear if your calcium blood levels are extremely high- you may feel excessive thirst, suffer from kidney stones, fragile bones and Gout attacks.

Diagnosis

A high blood calcium levels may appear on your routine blood tests and rise the suspicion of a parathyroid disorder.
In that case, your doctor will want to perform a few more diagnostic tests:
Blood tests- to confirm high calcium levels, and measure PTH (parathyroid hormone)
Urine tests- to check your urine calcium levels and see if your kidneys are involved.
If a diagnosis is made, your doctor may refer you to further testing in order to check for complications.

Treatment

If your kidneys and bones are not affected, and you are over 50, your doctor may recommend watchful waiting. in this case, it is important to stay hydrated and physically active, as well as take vitamin D and calcium supplements.
If treatment is needed, the preferred treatment is surgery to remove one or more of your parathyroid glands. This will lead to cure.

☝️ This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision.

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Source of Information - We analyze big data of more than 23 million patients de-identified medical records from the following sources:

National Institution of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ University of Illinois hospital