Hyperparathyroidism
Find out how high levels of parathyroid hormone affect bone health.
How does parathyroid hormone affect your chance of osteoporosis and broken bones?
The parathyroid glands help to control the amount of calcium in your body. They do this by increasing or decreasing the amount of parathyroid hormone they make. Sometimes one or more of the parathyroid glands makes too much parathyroid hormone. This causes the bones to break down, releasing more calcium. This is known as hyperparathyroidism.
If hyperparathyroidism is not treated, it can increase your chance of osteoporosis and broken bones. If hyperparathyroidism is causing high calcium levels, your doctor may advise you to stop taking calcium supplements. You may be able to start taking them again once your condition has been treated. Keep eating calcium-containing foods as usual, unless your specialist tells you not to.
If you have been diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism, speak to your doctor about a bone density scan (DEXA). You may have already had a DEXA scan as part of your diagnosis.
The NHS has more information about hyperparathyroidism and its treatment (www.nhs.uk).
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