Your Parathyroid is a crucial part of your whole body. 100,00 people develop primary Hyperparathyroidism each year! Like its cousin Hyperthyroidism, it tends to occur due to a nutrient or vitamin deficiency that affects your hormonal glands’ ability to do their job. Hyperparathyroidism is very common for people over the age of 40. Symptoms include:
- Excessive thirst
- Loss of appetite
- Depression/Muscle Weakness
However many cases of Hyperparathyroidism do not have symptoms so it is important to see your doctor for your routine checkups. Before your checkup here are some quick facts to know about Parathyroid.
Parathyroid vs Thyroid
The thyroid and parathyroid both live close to the neck and control hormones but they actually do very different jobs. The thyroid is in charge of regulating iodine in the body, while the parathyroid is in charge of regulating calcium and vitamin D. These nutrients are crucial for everything to your mood, your metabolism, and even the strength of your bones
How to keep your Parathyroid STRONG!!!
The key numbers to remember for Parathyroid health is 1200-1500 mg of Calcium a day and 1000 units of Vitamin D. While supplementation could be an option you can get your daily recommended supply of Vitamin D by standing outside at noon for 6-12 minutes!
For your calcium needs try going natural by eating:
- yogurt
- milk
- dark green leafy green vegetables
How your doctor treats your parathyroid
If one of these routine checkups flags you for primary hyperparathyroidism, or other parathyroid illnesses, your doctor may recommend removing the abnormal parathyroid glands. The great news is that your body has four parathyroid glands and removing one can be the best to ensure your other glands work properly. The operation has minimal risk of complications and you should be back to normal in about 1 -3 weeks depending on your situation.
Parathyroid surgery could relieve you of bone and muscle pain, reverse osteoporosis symptoms and improve the quality of your life. If you or a loved one would like to get tested for parathyroid issues speak to a doctor today.
