What is hyperparathyroidism?
Hyperparathyroidism is an overabundance of parathyroid hormone in the blood. It happens because one (or more) of the parathyroid glands in the body is becoming overly active. The body has four parathyroid glands that reside in the neck and make parathyroid hormone. The parathyroid hormone keeps the correct balance of calcium in the body and in body tissues.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of hyperparathyroidism are:
• Abdominal pain
• Bone and joint aches
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
Also, patients with hyperparathyroidism complain of:
• Frequent need to urinate
• Kidney stones
• Osteoporosis, or bones more susceptible to fracture
• Fatigue, or getting tired easily
• Weakness
• General malaise
Symptoms may be very mild, so they might not be noticed or it may be difficult for a patient to realize that anything is amiss. Hyperparathyroidism is still usually diagnosed before symptoms appear, during tests for other conditions or at routine check-ups with a doctor. Symptoms may also be very severe – it depends, and on the patient.
What causes hyperparathyroidism?
Primary hyperparathyroidism happens when one or more of the parathyroid glands in the body secrete too much parathyroid hormone, thereby causing high blood levels of calcium. This is referred to as hypercalcaemia, which results in a wide range of medical issues.
Secondary hyperparathyroidism is due to another condition or disease that results in low levels of calcium in the body. With time, this leads to a rise in parathyroid hormone levels.
How can it be prevented?
Hyperparathyroidism cannot be avoided, but some risk factors for the condition are present, such as radiation therapy for cancer, deficiency of vitamin D, being female and having passed through the menopause, and having received lithium, a drug commonly employed in the therapy of bipolar disorder.
What is the treatment?
Hyperparathyroidism is usually picked up by physicians during routine testing, when there is an elevation of calcium presented in the blood. There are numerous conditions which present with an elevation of calcium, but when this is paired with an elevation of parathyroid hormone, this diagnoses hyperparathyroidism.
The most standard treatment is surgery (in the case of primary hyperparathyroidism), where the enlarged glands are removed and the rest which are functioning normally are left behind.
There are some medicines that can be taken to cure hyperparathyroidism, such as hormone replacement therapy that helps the body retain calcium, particularly in women who have reached menopause.
There are occasions when physicians opt to monitor the condition and prescribe no treatment. Nevertheless, this entails scheduled blood tests to keep an eye on the calcium levels in the blood and bone density scans to determine if the hyperparathyroidism is causing harm to the bones.