Parathyroid

Parathyroid services offered in Chelmsford, Concord and Woburn, MA and Nashua and Derry, NH

Your parathyroid gland regulates calcium in your body, which you probably don’t think much about unless the gland is malfunctioning. At Massachusetts Ear, Nose and Throat Associates in Chelmsford, Woburn, and Concord, Massachusetts, as well as Nashua and Derry, New Hampshire, the team of ear, nose, and throat experts provides treatments and surgery for parathyroid disease. To schedule an evaluation and treatment consultation, call the nearest office or book online today.

What is the parathyroid?

The parathyroid glands are next to the thyroid gland, which is at the front of your neck. Your four parathyroid glands are part of the endocrine system and produce a hormone called parathyroid hormone. The functions of parathyroid hormone include:

Releasing calcium from your bones into your bloodstream
Helping your intestines absorb calcium
Helping your kidneys conserve calcium
Stimulating cells in the kidneys to transform weak vitamin D into stronger vitamin D

As you can see, the main function of the parathyroid glands is to regulate calcium within your body. That is important as imbalances of calcium can lead to health complications affecting your muscles and nerves.

What are the symptoms of a parathyroid issue?

Parathyroid problems can cause an array of different symptoms, depending on the specific parathyroid disorder affecting you. Here are some signs and symptoms of three types of parathyroid dysfunction:

Hyperparathyroidism

Hyperparathyroidism involves the overproduction of parathyroid hormone. Its symptoms include low energy and fatigue, bone loss, muscle weakness, and low appetite.

Hypoparathyroidism

Hypoparathyroidism involves the underproduction of parathyroid hormone. Its most common symptoms are numbness, tingling, muscle spasms, and cramps.

In some cases, these conditions come with no symptoms whatsoever. It’s important to note that hyperparathyroidism weakens your bones, increasing your risk of fractures.

How are parathyroid problems treated?

The team at Massachusetts Ear, Nose and Throat Associates treats problems with the parathyroid gland first by monitoring the condition and determining whether or not you need surgery. While some medications and supplements can improve parathyroid disorders, surgery tends to be the most effective treatment.

During surgery for parathyroid disease, the team at Massachusetts Ear, Nose and Throat Associates removes any parathyroid glands that are overactive. There are minimally invasive techniques for this surgery that limit postoperative pain, bleeding, and scarring.

Parathyroid disease surgery involves removing one or more enlarged or overactive glands. The team uses intraoperative nuclear medicine scanning and intraoperative parathyroid monitoring to make sure they locate and remove the correct parathyroid glands safely. They also use intraoperative laryngeal monitoring to preserve your vocal cords and nerves nearby.

After surgery, you may need to take calcium and vitamin D supplements to regulate your body’s calcium levels in a way similar to how your parathyroid gland did prior to its removal.

For more information on the parathyroid glands and how they function, call Massachusetts Ear, Nose and Throat Associates or book an appointment online today.