EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HYPOPARATHYROIDISM PT 2

Autoimmune Disease

It is common for the immune system of the human body to create antibodies that usually rejects parathyroid tissues as if these tissues are foreign. In this rejection process, the tissues usually stop producing parathyroid hormones leading to Hypoparathyroidism.

Hereditary Hypoparathyroidism

Another cause of Hypoparathyroidism is heredity. That is, the chances for a person to develop the health condition are more if you have a family history of Hypoparathyroidism. In such cases, people will be born either without a parathyroid gland or with a faulty gland. Besides, some type of Hypoparathyroidism that are passed down to people from their former generations can be associated with deficiencies in hormone production by other glands.

Extensive Radiation Treatments on the Neck or Face

Extensive radiation treatments are employed to cure a number of health conditions, particularly cancers. If radiation therapy is done on the neck or face of a person, the chances for his/her parathyroid glands to get destructed are more. The same thing can occasionally result from the radiation iodine treatment as well, that is used to cure hyperthyroidism.

A Lower Level of Magnesium in the Blood

Magnesium is one of the important minerals present in human blood and plays a major role in the proper functioning of parathyroid glands. Obviously, a lower level of magnesium mineral in the blood will trigger Hypoparathyroidism. Note that it is really important to sustain a normal level of magnesium in blood to secrete adequate level of parathyroid hormones.

Complications

Hypoparathyroidism can result in a number of reversible and irreversible complications. The former can be treated and cured by means of medication and other treatments, but the latter is nearly impossible to treat even with calcium and phosphorous supplements. Some of the complications that you must be aware of are listed below.

Reversible Complications

• Tetany or spasms of hands and fingers that will become really painful over time.
• Paresthesias that is characterized by a burning or tingling sensation in your lips, toes, fingers, or tongue.
• Grand mal seizures or loss of consciousness along with convulsions.
• Heart arrhythmias followed by fainting.
• Heart failure.
• Impaired kidney functioning.
• A malformed tooth that is likely to affect dental roots and enamel.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.

Irreversible Complications

• Stunted growth or short stature.
• Slow mental development.
• Balance issues and seizures caused by calcium deposits in the brain.

Diagnosis and Treatment

If your doctor suspects that you have Hypoparathyroidism, he will conduct a blood test to confirm a series of points. Some of those things include lower blood-calcium, parathyroid hormone, and blood-magnesium levels, and a higher blood-phosphorous level. When it comes to the treatment, the potential options include oral calcium tablets, vitamin D supplements, parathyroid hormone injections or drugs. Plus, maintaining a proper diet will help to alleviate the complications as well as the symptoms to a great extent.