The parathyroid gland functions to produce parathyroid hormone, which is a hormone that regulates calcium levels in the body. However, sometimes these glands can become impaired and become overactive. As a result, the parathyroid hormone produced becomes excessive and causes hyperparathyroidism.
There are 4 parathyroid glands in the human body. Each parathyroid gland is shaped like a pea and is located behind the thyroid gland in the neck.
The parathyroid gland is responsible for producing parathyroid hormone which has several benefits, namely:
- Regulates the release of calcium from the bones into the blood.
- Controlling the absorption of calcium from food and drink in the digestive tract.
- Increases the absorption of calcium in the kidneys and prevents calcium wasted through the urine.
- Stimulates the body to produce vitamin D. This vitamin serves to increase the absorption of calcium by the body.
When the body is deficient in calcium, the parathyroid glands will produce parathyroid hormone to increase calcium levels in the body. After normal calcium levels return, parathyroid hormone will stop being produced by the parathyroid glands.
However, in certain cases, the parathyroid glands can produce too much parathyroid hormone and cause hyperparathyroidism.
Symptoms of Hyperparathyroidism
Hyperparathyroidism can make the amount of calcium in the blood become too much (hypercalcemia). Hyperparathyroidism often causes no obvious or specific symptoms.
However, there are some people with hyperparathyroidism who feel certain symptoms, such as:
- Tired easily.
- Frequent urination.
- Decreased appetite.
- Digestive disorders, such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, and stomach pain.
- Pain in bones and joints.
- Heart rate slows down.
- Psychological disorders, such as forgetfulness and depression.
In addition, hyperparathyroidism can also cause the cast to become brittle and break easily (osteoporosis) and the formation of kidney stones.
Types of Hyperparathyroidism and Their Causes
Based on the cause, hyperparathyroidism is divided into three types. Treatment steps for hyperparathyroidism also vary, depending on the type of hyperparathyroidism disease.
The following are the types of hyperparathyroidism:
Primary hyperparathyroidism
This type of hyperparathyroidism occurs as a result of abnormalities or in the function of the parathyroid glands. This disease is more common in women and in the 50-60 year age group. The occurrence of primary hyperparathyroidism so far not known with certainty what the cause.
However, there are a number of factors that can increase your risk for developing primary hyperparathyroidism, including:
- Tumor or cancer of the parathyroid glands.
- Radiation exposure, for example in radiation therapy.
- Genetic factors.
- Side effects of drugs, eg lithium (drugs to treat bipolar disorder).
Secondary hyperparathyroidism
Secondary hyperparathyroidism is a disease of hyperparathyroidism caused by low levels of calcium in the body for a long time.
Reduced calcium levels then make the parathyroid glands work more actively to increase calcium minerals in the body, causing hyperparathyroidism.
Secondary hyperparathyroidism can be caused by several things, such as insufficient intake of vitamin D and calcium, chronic kidney failure, excess phosphate in the blood, to digestive tract disorders that make it difficult for calcium to be absorbed from food.
Tertiary hyperparathyroidism
Tertiary hyperparathyroidism occurs when the parathyroid glands continue to produce parathyroid hormone, despite treatment for the underlying cause. This type of hyperparathyroidism is often associated with kidney failure.
Patients with tertiary hyperparathyroidism almost always require monitoring by a kidney specialist. If needed, the doctor can prescribe medication chinacalcet to treat tertiary hyperparathyroidism in patients with tertiary hyperparathyroidism due to severe renal failure and requiring dialysis.
Steps for Handling Hyperparathyroidism
Treatment of hyperparathyroidism will be tailored to the type of disease and its cause. The following are some steps for treating hyperparathyroidism by type:
Treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism
To treat primary hyperparathyroidism that is mild and does not cause serious health problems, doctors will usually only perform periodic monitoring to evaluate calcium levels and parathyroid gland function.
If hyperparathyroidism is already causing severe health problems or symptoms, your doctor can try several treatment steps, such as:
- Parathyroid gland surgery. This surgery is performed to remove an overactive parathyroid gland. This surgery is quite effective in curing primary hyperparathyroidism.
- Giving bisphosphonate drugs to reduce calcium levels that are too high. This method can only be done as a short term.
- Administration of drugs chinacalcet, if the patient's condition does not allow for surgery.
- Drug administration alendronate, to treat conditions of brittle and weak bones.
Treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism
Treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism is based on the underlying cause. The following are some steps for treating secondary hyperparathyroidism:
- Use of vitamin D supplements
If needed, the doctor may also provide calcium supplements to increase the patient's blood calcium levels.
- Drug use chinacalcetThis drug works to reduce the level of parathyroid hormone produced by the thyroid gland. To treat secondary hyperparathyroidism, doctors usually prescribe medication chinacalcet concurrently with vitamin D supplementation.
- Parathyroid gland surgerySurgery to remove an overactive parathyroid gland is usually done if the hyperparathyroidism does not improve with treatment or is very severe.
- Dialysis (hemodialysis)If secondary hyperparathyroidism is caused by severe renal impairment, then the treatment steps that may need to be taken are dialysis procedures.
To determine whether the patient has hyperparathyroidism or not, the doctor will perform a physical examination along with supporting blood tests to measure levels of parathyroid hormone and calcium minerals.
If the parathyroid glands are confirmed to have hyperparathyroidism, the doctor will provide further treatment according to the severity of the disease and the cause.
Therefore, in order to prevent hyperparathyroidism from developing into a serious disease, it is important for you to regularly check with your doctor.
