Hyperparathyroidism and other disorders of parathyroid gland
Hyperparathyroidism happens when your parathyroid glands produce too much hormone, causing your body to have dangerously high levels of calcium in the blood.
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You have four tiny glands in your neck called the parathyroid glands, each about the size of a grain of rice. Even though they are near your thyroid, they are not the same thing. Their main job is to keep your calcium levels in balance by releasing a hormone called parathyroid hormone, or PTH.
When these glands become overactive, they release too much PTH. This acts like a signal that tells your bones to release too much calcium into your bloodstream. Because your body needs calcium to keep bones strong, having too much floating in your blood instead of being stored in your bones can lead to serious health problems.
Common Symptoms
- Feeling unusually tired or weak
- Frequent bone or joint aches
- Increased thirst and needing to urinate (pee) more often
- Frequent kidney stones
- Feeling depressed or having trouble focusing
- Frequent stomach pain, nausea, or loss of appetite