Hyperparathyroidism Q & A
What is hyperparathyroidism?
You have four parathyroid glands located in your neck. Each parathyroid gland is about the size of a grain of rice and produces the parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH helps your body regulate the calcium levels in your blood.
Hyperparathyroidism occurs when at least one of your parathyroid glands becomes overactive and produces too much PTH, which causes elevated calcium levels.
In many cases, you receive a hyperparathyroidism diagnosis before you develop any symptoms. The long-term elevation of your calcium level can result in problems like:
Kidney stones
Abdominal pain
Osteoporosis
Bone pain
You might also urinate frequently or suffer from nausea and vomiting.
What causes hyperparathyroidism?
There are two types of hyperparathyroidism.
Primary hyperparathyroidism
An abnormality in one or more of your parathyroid glands causes primary hyperparathyroidism. For example, the condition is often due to noncancerous growths called adenoma or enlargement of the whole parathyroid gland. In rare cases, a cancerous tumor could cause hyperparathyroidism.
Secondary hyperparathyroidism
Another condition, like a calcium or vitamin D deficiency that lowers your calcium levels and forces your parathyroid glands to overcompensate, causes secondary hyperparathyroidism.
Your risk of developing hyperparathyroidism is higher if you’re a post-menopausal woman or if you’ve had radiation treatment for cancer near or in your neck.
How is hyperparathyroidism diagnosed?
In many cases, hyperparathyroidism is diagnosed when you have a blood test for another issue. If you have blood work that reveals elevated PTH and calcium levels, your doctor orders additional testing to rule out secondary causes and to search for early signs of complications.
Some standard tests include bone density scans, urinalysis, diagnostic imaging of your kidneys, and ultrasounds.
How is hyperparathyroidism treated?
The doctors at Beach Cities ENTS provide customized treatments to address your specific needs.
If you don’t have any symptoms and your calcium levels are only slightly elevated, they might recommend watchful waiting with regular blood work to monitor your calcium levels, kidney function, and bone density.
However, if your condition is advanced, your doctor might suggest surgery. Surgery is a standard treatment for hyperparathyroidism. The team at Beach Cities ENTS offers parathyroid surgery as an outpatient procedure. It only requires local anesthesia for a few small incisions.
If you’ve had blood work that indicates hyperparathyroidism or are looking for expert parathyroid surgery, call Beach Cities ENTS or make an appointment online today.