In the past few weeks the thyroid gland and its functions have been the topics for discussion in this column.  A reader sent an e-mail after the last one and asked that I address the parathyroid gland and reasons that it might function improperly.  I did some homework to address her specific concerns and decided that it might just help someone else out there to know what the parathyroid is and how it works.

The parathyroid gland is actually a collection of small pea-shaped glands in the neck near the thyroid gland.  Humans usually have four of them, two on each side of the neck.  The primary purpose of the parathyroid gland is to secrete parathyroid hormone, which is responsible for increasing the level of calcium that is in the bloodstream.

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and is best known for maintaining strong bones and teeth.  Its other functions are to keep nerve tissue and muscles functioning properly.  The heart, of course, is the most important muscle in the body, and calcium is an essential part of its healthy function.  When the level of calcium in the blood falls below normal, there is a steep increase in the secretion of parathyroid hormone.  Parathyroid hormone then signals the kidneys to reabsorb calcium rather than excrete it and triggers special cells in the bones to release calcium into the bloodstream.  If the body has an excessive amount of parathyroid hormone in circulation, too much calcium is taken from the bones and osteoporosis can occur.  The role of these tiny pea-shaped glands is extremely important in regulating many vital bodily functions, but sometimes the body’s natural regulation goes awry.

When the parathyroid gland is producing too much parathyroid hormone, the condition is called hyperparathyroidism.  Primary hyperparathyroidism is a condition in which the parathyroid gland itself is diseased.  Most often this condition is caused by a tumor on the gland and results in the secretion of parathyroid hormone randomly and in excessive amounts.  This materializes in the body by increasing blood calcium concentrations to levels which are much higher than those in normal range.  The body will form kidney stones and in some cases cause bone demineralization, or the removing of too much calcium from the bones.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism is caused by disease outside the parathyroid gland, most often kidney disease, which causes the body to secrete excessive parathyroid hormone.  If the kidneys are unable to absorb calcium properly, blood calcium concentrations fall and this sets up a cycle in which the body constantly secretes parathyroid hormone in order to maintain proper blood calcium levels.  The body robs the calcium it needs from bones, resulting often in severe osteoporosis.  In this case, people are highly susceptible to pathological fractures and all of the trouble that accompanies those.  Poor nutrition can also cause secondary hyperparathyroidism.  If a diet is low in vitamin D or calcium or if a diet contains too much phosphorous the condition can occur.  Diets which contain excessive amounts of meat are high in phosphorous.  This is one of the dangers of the ultra-high protein diets which do not balance with the proper amounts of vegetables and whole grains.

Treatment for hyperparathyroidism has historically involved removal of the diseased tissue under general anesthesia.  In 1996, a radio-guided surgical procedure was developed specifically for this disorder and can be done under local anesthesia in less than half an hour.  If surgery is recommended for you, request the radio-guided procedure for a less dangerous operation with a much shorter recovery time.

Our bodies are amazing chemical factories.  If all of the biological and biochemical processes are balanced, our bodies maintain homeostasis and all is well.  It takes only a small imbalance, however, to upset the proverbial applecart. I think it was George Burns who said, “If I knew I was going to live this long I’d have taken better care of myself.”  With all of the technology available today and the advances in healthcare that put us in control of prevention of many diseases, our lives are becoming longer and in many cases better.  It is up to us to become informed and proactive about our health.  Treat your body well.