What is hyperparathyroidism? At t...

What is hyperparathyroidism?

At the forehead of your neck, behind the thyroid gland, lie the four small parathyroid glands. (Say: pair-ah-thigh-royd) The hormone they make is called parathyroid hormone. This hormone holds the right levels of calcium and phosphorus in your kindred and bones. It also helps your visible form [i]or[/i] frame absorb calcium from food and helps you waste less calcium in urine.

Hyperparathyroidism (also called HPT) is a health enigma you get when your parathyroid glands make too a great quantity [i]or[/i] amount of parathyroid hormone. (Say: high-per-pair-ah-thigh-royd-iz-um) Having too frequently of this hormone can cause hypercalcemia, or too plenteous calcium in your blood. (Say: high-per-kal-see-mee-ah) If this happens, other parts of your material substance will not work right.

HPT usually is caused according to a growth in one of the parathyroid glands. The increase will be too small for you to be wrought up in your neck.

Who wins HPT?

HPT is more customary in women and older the bulk of mankind Nothing you eat or do causes HPT You have about common chance in 1,000 of getting HPT after you are 60 years old

by what means do I know I have HPT?

Your doctor may suspect you have HPT if a routine vital fluid test shows that you have a high calcium on a level Most people have no symptoms when their calcium flush is high. However, it is possible that you might achieve depressed or feel more tired than usual. Any part of your material substance might hurt. With more serious HPT the high calcium flush can cause loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or stomach pain.

If you have HPT you could earn kidney stones. Too much calcium in your kidneys might make you thirsty or increase your ne to urinate. Losing too abundant calcium in your urine makes your bone weak. Weak bone break more easily and take longer to heal.

Your doctor will order ordeals to see if HPT is causing other puzzles for you. You might have a trial to check the density of your bone You might have an x-ray or an ultrasound exam to check for kidney stones. You might have a urine exhibition to check your risk of forming stones. You might have a special proof to locate the abnormal parathyroid gland.

in what way is HPT treated?

The usual treatment for HPT is surgery to transfer the growth in your neck The product usually does not come back. greatest in quantity of your symptoms will stop in the first month after surgery Right after surgery your relations calcium level may be too depressed This problem can be treated with medicine.

Not all population with HPT need surgery. If you have exceedingly few symptoms, you might be watched closely and have proofs every six months. You might have surgery if the disease were to realize worse. Medicines that lower the calcium flat are used in people who can't have surgery

COPYRIGHT 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group