QUESTION: After a recent blood tests, I was told that I have too much calcium in my blood.
I'm confused because I thought calcium is good for you.
I've also been told I have parathyroidism.
Are the two conditions related? Please clarify.
ANSWER: You're right.
Calcium is good for you, but, like anything else, too much of it isn't healthy.
More importantly, excessive calcium in the blood is a signal that something is wrong and should be investigated and possibly treated. You say you have parathyroidism, but I think you mean "hyperparathyroidism." Hyperparathyroidism, or HPT, is caused by the hyperactivity of the parathyroid glands, and too much calcium in the blood is characteristic of the person who has hyperparathyroidism.
Other conditions can cause too much calcium in the blood, but it is very common to see hyperparathyroidism and hypercalcemia, or high levels of calcium in the blood, together. HPT is being diagnosed with greater frequency now than ever.
It appears that it is no more common now than it has been in years past, it is just diagnosed more frequently.
Often it is unexpectedly identified in patients when a routine blood test reveals higher than normal amounts of calcium in the blood.
The patient may or may not have symptoms.
It is twice as common in women as men, and is seen most often in women aged 40 to 60. More than half the people with HPT diagnosed in routine screening tests have "primary HPT," which means the cause is not known and the only problem that can be found is simply the higher than normal levels of calcium in the blood.
In other individuals the cause may be a tumor of the parathyroid gland, which causes the gland to malfunction and secrete more hormone than it should.
Other forms of cancer can mimic HPT, but this is fairly uncommon. Those persons whose primary HPT is discovered during routine lab work usually require little or no treatment.
If the problem is caused by a tumor on the parathyroid gland, surgical treatment will probably have to be considered. People with HPT vary widely in their symptoms.
Those with primary HPT often have vague symptoms that are not severe enough to motivate the individual to seek medical attention.
Symptoms most frequently reported are fatigue, irritability and mild gastrointestinal distress such as nausea and constipation. The decision on when or how to treat depends upon the age and the general physical health of the patient, and the severity of the symptoms.
Surgery on the parathyroid gland is an option for some, but it should not be undertaken lightly.
Surgery to correct hyperthyroidism is delicate and not always successful. Liberal intake of fluids and salt are often prescribed for the person with mild primary HPT, because this helps the body excrete excess calcium in the urine.
Sometimes, limiting intake of calcium and Vitamin D is recommended.
Do not treat yourself by adding salt to your diet or limiting your calcium and Vitamin D unless you have been thoroughly evaluated by your doctor.
Calcium and Vitamin D are essential to health, and limiting your intake of them should be done with your doctor's supervision and advice.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
