Hypoparathyroidism

Hypoparathyroidism – General Information

This medical condition is also commonly referred to as under-active parathyroid. Hypoparathyroidism is a quite uncommon medical disorder that is known to generally occur when the individual’s parathyroids (a set of glands that are found inside the neck) fail to produce a sufficient amount of hormone. The hormones that are secreted by these glands play an important part in regulating the organism’s blood levels of phosphorus and calcium (two very important chemical elements). If a patient is suffering from Hypoparathyroidism, he or she will probably present lowered blood levels of calcium and higher blood levels of phosphorus. This medical condition can be either acquired (if the patient’s glands are injured – this can occur from a surgery on another very important gland of the organism – the thyroid) or inherited. The average therapy option that is prescribed to an individual who has been diagnosed with this medical condition generally consists in the intake of supplements that ought to keep the patient’s phosphorus and calcium blood levels under a strict control. Unfortunately, this medical disorder is a chronic disease. This means that a patient who is suffering from Hypoparathyroidism will have to follow a lifelong therapy for his or her medical condition.

The mortality rate of this particular medical condition is known to depend on the underlying disorder that has caused the imbalance of the parathyroids. Both men and women are equally prone to developing this medical condition. Studies have shown that this disorder does not affect a certain age group, as children, adolescents, adults and elderly patients are all affected in the same way. Fortunately, this medical disorder is quite rare in the US.

Hypoparathyroidism - Signs and Symptoms

Studies have shown that the symptoms and / or signs that are triggered by this particular medical condition are directly linked to the underlying cause of Hypoparathyroidism (the medical disorder that has triggered the malfunctioning of the parathyroid glands). Furthermore, it is easily noticeable that the average signs that are associated with this endocrine medical disorder are a direct cause of the effects of this disease: low blood levels of calcium and high blood levels of phosphorus. Most individuals who are diagnosed with Hypoparathyroidism complain of the following symptoms: seizures (that can range from mild to severe), yeast infection (also known as candidiasis), burning, tingling and / or numbness (that is located around the fingers and mouth), malformed nails, dry skin, hair loss, tetany (muscle spasms, that usually affect the individual’s feet or hands).

If this medical condition is developed by a child, then the individual will experience a specific set of symptoms, as Hypoparathyroidism will affect his or her development. The most common symptoms experienced by a child with this parathyroid gland disorder include: mental deficiency, headaches, vomiting, poor development of the child’s teeth, and so on. We must inform you that the list of symptoms and / or signs that we have presented you in this chapter is far from complete, as other symptoms that are triggered by this medical condition can also be experienced by an individual who suffers from this disease. This is why we strongly advise you to look for an adjacent and reliable source of information – like your personal health care provider, your local pharmacist, and so on. They will be happy to provide you with the data that you seek.

Hypoparathyroidism - Treatment

If you realize that you present most of the symptoms and / or signs that we have mentioned in the above chapter we strongly advise you to contact your personal health care provider and set up an immediate appointment. Before your physician asks you to undergo certain medical exams that will determine whether you are suffering from Hypoparathyroidism or not, he will want to know more about your symptoms, the severity of your signs and your family medical history. He will also ask you whether you have recently undergone a neck or a thyroid surgery or if you are following a therapy that is known to suppress the activity of your parathyroid. He will then examine your symptoms. Your physician will check for muscle twitching, spasms and / or seizures, he or she will check your skin for further symptoms such as fungal infections, thinning hair and / or dry skin. In the case of children, the doctor will examine for developmental progress and tooth development. After this, he or she will ask you to undergo a series of clinical blood tests that will determine your blood levels of magnesium, phosphate, calcium and parathyroid hormone. A patient cannot prevent the inherited type of this medical condition. However, all individuals must be aware of the high risk that a surgery on the thyroid involves as such a medical procedure often damages the parathyroid glands. Only with the help of the last medical techniques is this risk diminished.

The primary therapy plan for patients who suffer from Hypoparathyroidism aims to correct the individuals’ abnormally low blood calcium levels. This is why the most common prophylaxis involves the intake of vitamin D and that of calcium supplements. In the case of patients who present muscle spasms (tetany), IV calcium must be considered a viable therapy option. Other individuals are prescribed diuretics, in order to effectively prevent the loss of high amounts of calcium through urine. Each individual who is following a therapy for this medical disorder ought to undergo regular medical check ups in order to enable his or her personal health care provider to closely monitor his or her blood levels of phosphorus and calcium. The next supplements could prove helpful in the therapy for Hypoparathyroidism. However, it is strictly forbidden to start a therapy with these drugs without the consent of your personal health care provider: magnesium supplements (as hypomagnesemia is another common symptom of those who suffer from this parathyroid disorder), boron (that enables the organism absorb a higher amount of calcium), vitamin K. A patient who suffers from Hypoparathyroidism ought to try and follow a diet with foods that are rich in calcium and phosphorus. Physicians usually recommend: apricots, prunes, tahini, sardines, oats, blackstrap molasses, dark leafy greens, legumes, almonds, and so on.