We all know how important calcium is for our bodies, especially our bones and teeth. But did you know about the little 'manager' inside our bodies that precisely controls the amount of calcium in our blood? That small, but very powerful part is called the parathyroid glands. We're talking about these little guys today.
Simply put, what are these parathyroid glands?
Imagine, you've heard of the butterfly-shaped thyroid gland in your neck. Behind the thyroid gland, just inside it, are four small glands about the size of four peas . These are part of our body's endocrine system.
Normally, everyone has four of these glands. However, some people may have fewer or more than four. That's normal.
What really happens to these little glands?
These parathyroid glands have only one, but very important, job. That is to produce and release the hormone parathyroid hormone, or (PTH) for short, into the body.
This hormone (PTH) is what keeps the calcium level in our blood at the right level. Just like the thermostat in a house's AC. When the temperature rises, it lowers it, and when it falls, it increases it. When the calcium level in the blood decreases, the hormone (PTH) is released and increases it. When the calcium level increases, the release of (PTH) decreases.
So why is this blood calcium level so important?
99% of the total calcium in our body is in our bones and teeth. The remaining 1% is in our blood. That small amount does all of these things:
- Nervous system function: Calcium is essential for transmitting messages through our nerves.
- Muscle contraction: We move our limbs, we walk, all of these require muscle contraction. That requires calcium.
- Blood clotting: When you get injured, your blood needs to clot to stop bleeding. Calcium also helps with that process.
- For heart function: The level of calcium in the blood is very important for our heart to beat properly.
Remember, vitamin D is also essential for our bodies to absorb calcium. Therefore, vitamin D also provides great support for the functioning of the parathyroid glands.
Major diseases related to the parathyroid glands
There are problems with the activity of these glands, both in excess and in deficiency. We are mainly talking about two medical conditions.
1. Hyperparathyroidism - excessive production of the hormone
This occurs when one or more of the parathyroid glands become overactive and produce too much parathyroid hormone (PTH). This causes the calcium level in the blood to rise dangerously high. We call this hypercalcemia .
There may be several reasons for this:
- Primary Hyperparathyroidism: In this case, the problem is in the glands themselves. The most common cause is a non-cancerous tumor called a parathyroid adenoma that develops in one of the glands. Very rarely, this condition can also be caused by parathyroid cancer. But that is very rare, so don't worry.
- Secondary Hyperparathyroidism: In this condition, the glands become overactive due to another condition. For example, someone with kidney failure or vitamin D deficiency may have low calcium levels in their body. In response, the parathyroid glands start to produce more hormones.
| Symptoms of hyperparathyroidism (increased calcium in the blood) | |
|---|---|
| Frequent urination and excessive thirst | Excessive body fatigue and tiredness |
| Pain in bones and joints | Headache, nausea, and vomiting |
| Constipation and loss of appetite | Forgetfulness, depression, and irritability |
| Muscle pain, weakness, and cramps | Risk of kidney stones |
2. Hypoparathyroidism - not enough hormone
This is a rarer condition than the previous one. What happens here is that the parathyroid glands do not produce enough of the hormone (PTH). This causes the calcium level in the blood to drop dangerously low. We call it hypocalcemia .
The main cause of this condition is accidental damage or removal of the parathyroid glands during neck surgery, especially thyroidectomy. In addition, this condition can also be caused by certain genetic and autoimmune conditions.
| Symptoms of Hypoparathyroidism (low blood calcium) | |
|---|---|
| Numbness in the lips, fingertips, and toes | Muscle cramps and spasms |
| Stomach pain | Brain fog and confusion |
| Heartbeat abnormalities (Arrhythmia) | Brittle nails, dry hair and skin |
| Cataracts | Weakening of tooth enamel in young children |
How do we keep these glands healthy?
The parathyroid glands are actually located deep inside the neck and are well protected. So they are not easily damaged by external hazards. But there are a few things we can do to help these glands do their job properly.
- Get enough vitamin D: Vitamin D is very important for maintaining stable blood calcium levels. In our country, we get a lot of vitamin D from sunlight. It is very good to be exposed to the sun for a short time in the morning. Talk to your doctor and decide if you need a vitamin D supplement.
- Include enough calcium in your diet: It is very important to eat a balanced diet. Good sources of calcium include milk, yogurt, cheese, small fish (including shellfish), and green vegetables (spinach, kale). If you have any doubts about your diet, consult a doctor.
The most important thing is to see a doctor as soon as possible if you have any of the symptoms mentioned above. A simple blood test can easily detect if there is a problem by checking the calcium and (PTH) levels in the blood.
Even though the parathyroid glands are one of the smallest organs in the body, you probably now understand how much they affect the functioning of our entire body. That's why it's so important to pay attention to our bodies.
Take-Home Message
- The parathyroid glands are four small glands in our neck that control the level of calcium in the blood.
- If the parathyroid hormone (PTH) produced by these glands increases (hyperparathyroidism) or decreases (hypoparathyroidism), health problems can occur.
- Symptoms of high blood calcium include excessive fatigue, bone pain, and frequent urination.
- Numbness in the fingers and muscle twitching can be symptoms of low calcium in the blood.
- Getting enough vitamin D and calcium is important for healthy parathyroid function.
- If you have any symptoms or doubts regarding this, see your doctor immediately for advice.
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