What is hyperparathyroidism?
Hyperparathyroidism is excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone by the overactive parathyroid glands. Excessive levels of parathyroid hormones, results in increased levels of calcium in the blood stream, it can affect many systems of the body, especially causing bone reabsorption and osteoporosis. Another more significant result of hyperparathyroidism is kidney stones, because of high levels of calcium excreted into the urine by the kidneys.
Generally, parathyroid glands produce the parathormone as calcium levels drop and lower to meet the demands of a pregnancy, growing skeleton or lactation. However, malfunctions of one or more parathyroid glands can lead to overproduction of the hormone and elevated calcium level in the blood. So, hypercalcemia or an abnormally high level of calcium in the blood is a common result of hyperparathyroidism.
Parathyroid glands and thyroid glands, despite their similar name and propinquity, are entirely different, and each gland produces hormones with different functions. Hyperparathyroidism can be primary or secondary. It commonly affects in those over age 30, and most often in patients 50 to 60 years old. It rarely affects children or the elderly. Women are more prone to this disease.
The parathyroid glands produce parathyroid hormone, which regulates calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium levels within the blood and bone. When calcium levels are very low, the body increases the production of parathyroid hormone. This increase in parathyroid hormone gives rise to more calcium to be taken from the bone and more calcium to be reabsorbed by the intestines and kidney. When the calcium level becomes normal, parathyroid hormone production usually slows down.
In primary hyperparathyroidism, parathyroid hormone is produced without regard to the calcium levels. It usually occurs as a malfunction of one of the glands, as a result of a benign tumor, called adenoma and in secondary hyperparathyroidism the body produces extra parathyroid hormone because the calcium levels are too low. It occurs as the result of a metabolic abnormality outside the parathyroid glands, which causes a resistance to the function of the parathyroid hormones. Primary hyperparathyroidism is one of the common endocrine disorders, led only by hyperthyroidism and diabetes.
Identifying the underlying problem and regulating the calcium level will bring the parathyroid levels in the normal range. Tertiary hyperthyroidism occurs in patients with kidney problems when the parathyroid glands continue to produce too much parathyroid hormone even though the calcium level is back to normal.
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