8 common symptoms of hyperparathyroidism to watch out for

There are many potential health problems that people need to watch out for as they age, and hyperparathyroidism is one of them. In particular, women between the ages of 30 and 60 should be on the lookout for signs of hyperparathyroidism. Before a patient can understand the symptoms of hyperparathyroidism to watch out for, it is important to know what hyperparathyroidism is and what risk factors are involved.

What is hyperparathyroidism?
Hyperparathyroidism occurs when one of the four parathyroid glands in the neck is overactive. This causes the gland, or sometimes several glands, to produce too much parathyroid hormone. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) helps regulate calcium levels in the body. While calcium is best known for its role in maintaining healthy bones and teeth, this mineral also helps muscles contract, regulates heart rate, supports nerve function, and aids in blood clotting.

To help keep blood calcium levels from dropping too low, parathyroid hormone releases calcium from the bones into the bloodstream, maximizing calcium’s ability to absorb calcium from food, and helping the kidneys retain and release calcium. release calcium back into the blood instead of passing it out in the urine.

If the parathyroid gland is malfunctioning and producing too much PTH, it means too much calcium is being released from the bones. There are three types of hyperparathyroidism.

Primary HPT:
A noncancerous tumor (adenoma) that develops on one or more of the four parathyroid glands the size of a grain of rice in the neck, causing overproduction of PTH.
Secondary HPT:
Diseases outside of the parathyroid glands, such as kidney disease or vitamin D deficiency, cause enlargement of all four parathyroid glands.
Tertiary HPT:
This type of HPT occurs when secondary HPT persists even after a kidney transplant or dialysis.
Untreated hyperparathyroidism can lead to a number of complications, including osteoporosis and kidney stones.

Complications of untreated hyperparathyroidism
Calcium is essential for strong bones. However, overproduction of PTH means that calcium is constantly being drawn out of the bones. This weakens them and can lead to weakness, fractures, and osteoporosis.

Excess calcium in the blood can also cause urine to contain too much calcium, leading to kidney stones – small, hard deposits of calcium in the kidneys that must pass through the urinary tract to get out of the body. This often leads to severe pain. If the stone is too large to pass through the urinary tract, medical intervention may be needed to break the stone so it can pass out of the body.

Although these are the most common risks of untreated hyperparathyroidism, other complications can occur. Hyperparathyroidism is associated with heart disease. And while primary hyperparathyroidism is uncommon in women of childbearing age, untreated primary hyperparathyroidism in the mother can lead to dangerously low calcium levels in the newborn. Understanding the causes and risk factors of this condition can help a person assess whether they are at risk for this condition.

Risk factors and causes of hyperparathyroidism
Women in general, especially women between the ages of 50 and 60, are at greatest risk of developing hyperparathyroidism. Although hyperparathyroidism can develop in women who are menstruating, it is less common. Men can also develop hyperparathyroidism.

Anyone who has had radiation therapy or other cancer treatment that targets the neck area is also at risk for hyperparathyroidism, as are people who take medications that can alter calcium levels. If hyperparathyroidism runs in a person’s family, that person may be more likely to get it because of the genetics.

As with risk factors for hyperparathyroidism, the causes of PTH can vary. In primary hyperparathyroidism, possible causes include:

Parathyroid tumor, which is a benign tumor of the parathyroid gland
Hyperplasia or enlargement of all four parathyroid glands
Cancerous tumor of the parathyroid glands parathyroid glands, tends to be rare
Secondary hyperparathyroidism is usually due to severe calcium deficiency, severe vitamin D deficiency or chronic renal failure. Tertiary hyperparathyroidism occurs after long-term secondary HPT, especially if HPT does not improve in patients with renal failure after renal failure treatment.

8 Most common symptoms of hyperparathyroidism
Hyperparathyroidism is known for its nonspecific symptoms. People with this condition may complain of depression and joint pain simply because the provider ignores symptoms such as stress or aging. However, blood tests to measure PTH and calcium should be done if a person has one or more of the symptoms below.

The 8 most common symptoms of hyperparathyroidism are

Kidney stones
Abdominal pain
Bone and joint pain
Increased need to urinate
Getting tired easily
Feeling weak
Depression
Nausea and vomiting
If you have risk factors for hyperparathyroidism and have these symptoms, or even if you have no known risk factors for HPT, seeing a parathyroid specialist is an important step in seek treatment.

Diagnosis and treatment of hyperparathyroidism
Hyperparathyroidism is diagnosed by blood tests that measure the levels of PTH and calcium in the blood. Computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, X-ray, and sestamibi scan can also help diagnose hyperparathyroidism. In addition, these scans help a trained parathyroid surgeon to locate the problem gland and develop a treatment plan.

Treatment may vary depending on whether the patient has primary, secondary or tertiary HPT. Primary HPT requires surgery to remove the problematic parathyroid gland. Because secondary HPT is often caused by kidney problems, treatment for kidney disease, medication, and calcium and vitamin D supplements are common treatments. For tertiary HPT, medication and surgery are two options.

A qualified parathyroid surgeon can perform minimally invasive parathyroidectomy to treat hyperparathyroidism. This surgery does not require general anesthesia or a long hospital stay. In addition, small incisions and a good surgeon will ensure that the incision blends into the natural folds of the neck. Symptoms of hyperparathyroidism will begin to subside a few days, weeks, and months after parathyroidectomy.