Calcium imbalances and parathyroid disorders – parathyroid hormone
Your body relies on its parathyroid glands in order to maintain the proper balance of calcium and phosphorous. These glands maintain this balance through the secretion of the parathyroid hormone (PTH).
Hyperparathyroidism
In some cases, the parathyroid glands overproduce PTH (hyperparathyroidism) causing the blood calcium to rise beyond its normal level. In very rare cases, the underlying cause is cancer. However, the majority of parathyroid tumors are not cancerous. MedlinePlus reports that, in most cases, the problem stems from enlarged parathyroid glands.
Hypoparathyroidism
On the opposite end of the spectrum, hypothyroidism—too little PTH production—can be caused by parathyroid disorders. In this case, not enough calcium is produced while too much phosphorous is made. Underlying causes of hypothyroidism include endocrine disorders, genetic factors, and injury to the glands.
Parathyroid surgery
The primary treatment method for these types of disorders is parathyroid surgery. Most people suffering from parathyroid conditions are suitable candidates for minimally invasive parathyroid (MIP) surgery, which involves a single incision on one side of the neck in order to remove the parathyroid adenoma gland. The benefit of the MIP procedure is that the following parathyroid surgery recovery is relatively quick; the majority of patients are able to return home either on the same day of the procedure or the next day.
Parathyroid adenoma
Symptoms of the disorder include fatigue, increased anxiety and nervousness, heart-related symptoms including high blood pressure, acid reflux, and kidney stones. For instance, increased calcium levels caused by hyperparathyroidism can cause kidney stones to develop. This is why it is an extremely common practice to screen patients with kidney stones for parathyroid disorders.
Parathyroid disorder treatment
If you exhibit any symptoms of parathyroid disorder, take immediate action by scheduling an appointment with an ENT specialist. Doing so will allow you to either rule out the illness or to begin an effective treatment plan. With proper treatment, you will begin to feel back to your old self.
