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Parathyroid Disease

Valdosta Specialty Clinic Our Services Parathyroid Disease

Valdosta Specialty Clinic

Rheumatology & Endocrinology located in Valdosta, GA

Parathyroid disease is a hormonal disorder that affects your body’s ability to regulate blood calcium levels. At Valdosta Specialty Clinic in Valdosta, Georgia, Wayne Furr, MD, and a team of experts diagnose and treat parathyroid disease. They take an individualized approach to care, creating plans that restore hormone balance, ease symptoms, and improve health. Call the office today to schedule an evaluation, or click the online contact page to send them a message if you have questions.

Parathyroid Disease Q & A

What is parathyroid disease?

Parathyroid disease is a hormonal condition that occurs when your parathyroid glands overproduce parathyroid hormone (PTH).

The parathyroid glands are four tiny glands found in the neck on or near your thyroid gland. These glands produce and secrete PTH, a hormone that regulates the movement of calcium between your blood and bones.

Most of the calcium in your body is in your bones, which is a mineral that keeps your bones strong. However, your blood also carries small amounts of calcium to regulate nerve and muscle function.

Too much PTH increases the movement of calcium from your bones to your blood, affecting bone health and strength and increasing the risk of osteoporosis. High levels of calcium in your blood also put you at risk of having a stroke. 

What are the symptoms of parathyroid disease?

You can have parathyroid disease without having any symptoms. However, high levels of blood calcium can make you feel sick, causing symptoms such as:

  • Foggy thinking
  • Muscle cramping
  • Tingling in the fingers or toes
  • Fatigue
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Bone pain
  • Heartburn
  • Low sex drive
  • Depression
  • Heart palpitations

You can develop parathyroid disease at any age, but it most often occurs between 40 and 75. People with a family history of parathyroid disease are at greater risk of developing the hormonal condition. 

What happens during a parathyroid disease evaluation?

The highly skilled endocrinologists at Valdosta Specialty Clinic conduct a thorough, patient-centered exam when you come in for a parathyroid disease evaluation. They review your symptoms, medical and family history, and perform a physical exam.

They run lab work to check your blood levels of PTH and calcium to diagnose parathyroid disease. They may also do imaging tests to look for abnormal growths. High levels of PTH and calcium may indicate you have an adenoma (a noncancerous tumor) on the gland.

What are the treatments for parathyroid disease?

Surgery to remove the parathyroid glands is the only treatment for parathyroid disease. Currently, no medications can regulate blood calcium levels. However, surgeons may not need to remove all four of the glands.

After removing the glands, you may need to take calcium supplements to keep calcium blood levels within normal range for a short period until your PTH levels balance out.

Call Valdosta Specialty Clinic today or reach out online to learn more about parathyroid disease. 

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