Parathyroid Explained: Symptoms, Causes, and the Best Treatments for Bones, Stones, and Groans
Most people have heard of the thyroid gland, but very few know about the Parathyroid. Despite their similar names and location, they are completely different organs with entirely different jobs. The parathyroid glands are the unsung heroes of your skeletal system, acting as the body's Calcium Thermostat.
When these tiny glands malfunction, it can wreak havoc on your body, leading to kidney stones, brittle bones, and unexplained fatigue. If you are searching for answers about what is the parathyroid, wondering what are the symptoms of a parathyroid problem, or looking for the best treatment for parathyroid issues, this guide covers it all. Accurate diagnosis starts with blood work; you can book a specific Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) Test at Sanovra Lab to check your levels.
In This Comprehensive Guide:
- What is the Parathyroid? (Anatomy & Function)
- What are the Symptoms of a Parathyroid Problem?
- Hyperparathyroidism vs. Hypoparathyroidism
- What are the Primary Causes of Parathyroidism?
- How is it Diagnosed? (Lab Tests)
- What is the Best Treatment for Parathyroid Disease?
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Parathyroid? (Anatomy & Function)
The parathyroid glands are four tiny glands, each about the size of a grain of rice, located in the neck behind the thyroid gland. Even though they live next door to the thyroid, they have nothing to do with metabolism.
The Sole Purpose: Calcium Regulation
The parathyroid glands have one single, vital job: to strictly control the level of calcium in your blood.
Calcium is the element that allows our nervous system to conduct electricity. It is what allows us to think, speak, and move muscles. The body keeps blood calcium in a very tight range (usually 8.5 to 10.2 mg/dL). If levels drop even slightly, the parathyroid glands release Parathyroid Hormone (PTH).
PTH works in three ways to raise calcium:
- It takes calcium out of your bones.
- It tells your kidneys to stop peeing out calcium.
- It helps your intestines absorb more calcium from food (via Vitamin D).
What are the Symptoms of a Parathyroid Problem?
When people ask, what are the symptoms of a parathyroid problem?, they are usually referring to Hyperparathyroidism (too much hormone). This causes calcium levels to rise dangerously high (Hypercalcemia).
Doctors use a classic rhyme to remember these symptoms: Bones, Stones, Groans, and Psychic Moans.
1. BONES (Skeletal Pain):
Excess PTH constantly strips calcium from the bones. This leads to Osteoporosis, bone pain, and a high risk of fractures.
2. STONES (Kidney Issues):
The kidneys try to filter the excess calcium from the blood. This overload often causes painful Kidney Stones.
3. GROANS (Abdominal Symptoms):
High calcium affects the gut, leading to nausea, vomiting, constipation, and loss of appetite.
4. PSYCHIC MOANS (Mental Health):
High calcium slows down the nervous system. Patients often experience brain fog, severe fatigue, depression, memory loss, and difficulty concentrating.
Hyperparathyroidism vs. Hypoparathyroidism
Parathyroid disease falls into two main categories:
1. Hyperparathyroidism (Too Much PTH)
This is the most common disorder. One or more glands become overactive, producing too much hormone regardless of the calcium level. This leads to high blood calcium and the symptoms listed above.
2. Hypoparathyroidism (Too Little PTH)
This is rare. It usually occurs if the glands are accidentally damaged or removed during thyroid surgery. Without enough PTH, blood calcium drops (Hypocalcemia). Symptoms include:
- Tingling in the lips, fingers, and toes.
- Muscle cramps and spasms (Tetany).
- Brain fog or confusion.
What are the Primary Causes of Parathyroidism?
When investigating what are the primary causes of parathyroidism, we primarily look at three types:
1. Primary Hyperparathyroidism (The Most Common)
This is an intrinsic problem with the gland itself.
- Adenoma: In about 96% of cases, a non-cancerous benign tumor develops on one of the four glands, causing it to overproduce hormone.
- Hyperplasia: All four glands become enlarged (less common).
- Cancer: Parathyroid cancer is extremely rare (less than 1% of cases).
2. Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
Here, the glands are normal, but they are reacting to another problem in the body that is causing low calcium. The glands overwork to compensate.
- Kidney Failure: The most common cause.
- Severe Vitamin D Deficiency: Without Vitamin D, you can't absorb calcium, so PTH rises to get it from bones.
How is it Diagnosed? (Lab Tests)
Parathyroid disease is diagnosed almost exclusively through blood tests. You cannot feel a tumor in your neck.
The key is to measure Calcium and PTH at the same time.
- The Diagnostic Hallmark: If you have High Calcium AND High (or normal) PTH, you almost certainly have Primary Hyperparathyroidism. (Normally, if calcium is high, PTH should be near zero).
- Vitamin D Test: Essential to rule out secondary causes.
If you suspect an issue, you can book a Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) Test at Sanovra Lab.
What is the Best Treatment for Parathyroid Disease?
The answer depends on the type, but for the most common type (Primary), the answer is definitive.
1. Surgery (Parathyroidectomy)
Surgery is the only cure for Primary Hyperparathyroidism. It is the best treatment for parathyroid tumors. Since the problem is usually a single benign tumor, a surgeon can locate and remove just the one bad gland. The remaining three glands will resume normal function. This surgery is often minimally invasive, takes under an hour, and cures the disease instantly.
2. Watchful Waiting
If calcium levels are only slightly elevated and the patient has no symptoms (no kidney stones, normal bone density), doctors may simply monitor the levels annually.
3. Medications
For patients who cannot undergo surgery, drugs called Calcimimetics can be used. These trick the parathyroid glands into thinking calcium levels are high, so they produce less PTH. However, this does not cure the tumor.
4. Treatment for Hypoparathyroidism
If you have low PTH, the treatment is lifelong supplements of Calcium and Vitamin D (Calcitriol) to maintain blood levels manually.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Common symptoms include bone pain, osteoporosis, kidney stones, fatigue, brain fog, depression, and abdominal issues like nausea or constipation (often remembered as Bones, Stones, Groans, and Moans).
The parathyroid glands are four small glands located behind the thyroid. Their sole function is to regulate calcium levels in the blood by producing Parathyroid Hormone (PTH).
The primary cause is usually a benign tumor (adenoma) on one of the glands. Secondary causes include chronic kidney failure or severe Vitamin D deficiency which forces the glands to overwork.
For Primary Hyperparathyroidism (a tumor), the best and only curative treatment is a surgery called Parathyroidectomy to remove the faulty gland. Medications are used only if surgery is not an option.
While not a direct cause, the fatigue and low energy associated with hyperparathyroidism can lead to reduced physical activity, which may result in secondary weight gain.