What is Hypoparathyroidism?

What Is Hypoparathyroidism?

Your neck has four pea-sized glands called the parathyroid glands. Hyperparathyroidism happens when they don't make enough parathyroid hormone (PTH), are surgically removed, are damaged or when your body is resistant to that hormone. PTH controls the blood level of important vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D and calcium.

You may also have hypoparathyroidism because you have another condition that affects how much PTH is in your body, such as a low magnesium level.

Your body uses calcium to keep your nerves, muscles, and heart working. Low levels of calcium can result in symptoms ranging from mild to severe muscle spasms, tingling, heart problems, and seizures. The good news is you can treat the condition.

Treatment mostly means making sure your body has enough calcium and vitamin D, which you can do by eating a balanced diet, taking supplements, and keeping an eye on blood levels. If you stick with your treatment plan and see your doctor regularly, you can lead a full, active life with hypoparathyroidism.

Causes

Several things can trigger hypoparathyroidism. They include:

• Injury or removal of the glands during surgery
• Autoimmune diseases
• Radiation therapy to your neck or head
• Low levels of magnesium
• Genetic disorders

Symptoms

Some of the symptoms of low blood calcium are:

• Muscle cramps or spasms in your legs, feet, lower back, or face
• Tingling in your fingers, toes, or lips
• Anxiety and depression
• Heart failure
• An irregular heartbeat
• Low blood pressure
• Seizures

Low calcium in the long term can lead to:

• Cataracts
• Dental problems
• Movement disorders like tremors
• Hair loss and brittle nails

Getting a Diagnosis

Your doctor will test your blood and your urine for calcium, PTH, phosphorus, and magnesium.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

If your child has the disease, ask their doctor how you can make sure they get the nutrients they need to grow.

Treatment

Calcium and vitamin D supplements can keep hypoparathyroidism in check. A healthy diet helps, too. Your doctor may tell you to:

• Limit foods with phosphates, like soda and other fizzy drinks. These can pull calcium from your bones.
• Eat foods high in calcium such as low-fat dairy products, dark green vegetables like collard greens and kale, and foods with added calcium like some cereals and orange juices.

A dietitian can help you plan meals to keep you or your child healthy. Your child's doctor will check them regularly to see that their growth is on track.

If normal calcium levels in your body are hard to maintain, you may need to get an injection of PTH. Once your calcium levels are normal again, you can go back to your regular treatment.

Taking Care of Yourself

You can take steps to make living with hypoparathyroidism easier.

• Take calcium supplements with food. They're more easily absorbed that way.
• Drink plenty of water every day. That makes it easier for your body to digest vitamins and minerals.
• See your dentist regularly. Too little calcium can hurt your teeth.

What to Expect

As long as you get enough calcium and vitamin D and have your blood checked regularly, you should be able to keep your hypoparathyroidism under control. If you don't take your daily supplement and watch your diet, the condition can be dangerous.

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