It’s funny, isn’t it? You can go through most of your life not even knowing some tiny parts of your body exist, until, well, they make themselves known. I remember a patient, let’s call her Sarah, who came in feeling just… “blah.” Tired all the time, some muscle aches, nothing she could quite put her finger on. We ran some routine blood tests, and that’s when we started looking at her calcium levels. This investigation eventually led us to these tiny, often overlooked, powerhouses: the parathyroid glands. You might not have heard much about them, but they play a surprisingly big role in keeping you feeling your best.
What Exactly Are These Parathyroid Glands?
So, what are these parathyroid glands? Imagine four tiny, pea-sized glands. They’re part of your endocrine system, which is your body’s network of hormone-producing glands. These little guys are usually tucked in right behind your thyroid gland – that butterfly-shaped gland in your neck you’ve probably heard more about.
Most folks have four of them, but hey, bodies are wonderfully varied! Some people might have a couple less, or even a few more. It happens.
Their main job, their one big mission, is to make and release something called parathyroid hormone, or PTH as we often call it. This hormone is the main manager of calcium levels in your blood. And keeping that calcium level just right? Super important.
The Big Job of Your Tiny Parathyroid Glands
Now, why all this fuss about calcium? Well, calcium is more than just good for your bones and teeth (though about 99% of it is stored there!). That other 1% circulating in your blood is absolutely essential. It helps:
- Your nerves send signals properly.
- Your muscles contract so you can move. You know, walk, wave, blink.
- Your blood clot if you get a cut.
- Your heart keep beating steadily.
Your parathyroid glands, by releasing PTH, work in a delicate dance with another hormone called calcitonin to keep those blood calcium levels in a very tight, healthy range. Too much or too little calcium, and things can start to feel… off.
Oh, and Vitamin D is a key player here too! Your body needs it to actually absorb the calcium you get from your food. So, it all works together.
Where Are These Glands Hiding? And What Do They Look Like?
Like I said, most of the time (about 80% of people), these four little parathyroid glands are snuggled up behind the thyroid in your neck. Usually two on each “wing” of the thyroid.
But sometimes, they can be a bit adventurous. Around 16% of people have what we call ectopic parathyroid glands. This just means they’re found in a slightly different spot – maybe along your esophagus (the tube that carries food to your stomach) or even down in your chest, in an area called the mediastinum. Usually, this isn’t a problem at all. It just means if we ever need to check them out closely, say for surgery, they might be a little trickier to find.
And what do they look like? Well, they’re tiny! Each one is about the size and shape of a small pea. If they become overactive, they can sometimes get a bit larger.
When Parathyroid Glands Go Off-Key: Common Issues
Like any part of the body, sometimes the parathyroid glands can run into a bit of trouble. The two main conditions we see are when they’re working too much or too little.
Hyperparathyroidism: The Glands in Overdrive
Hyperparathyroidism is what we call it when one or more of your parathyroid glands get a bit too enthusiastic and release too much PTH.
This can happen for a couple of reasons:
- Secondary hyperparathyroidism: Sometimes, your glands ramp up PTH production as a normal response to something else going on. Maybe you’re low on Vitamin D, or your kidneys aren’t working quite as they should, or you’re dealing with another illness. Your body is trying to keep calcium levels normal. If this goes on for a long time, though, it can lead to other health issues.
- Primary hyperparathyroidism: This is when the problem is with the glands themselves, causing them to pump out too much PTH, which then leads to high calcium levels in your blood (hypercalcemia). This is actually pretty common – about 100,000 people in the U.S. develop it each year.
Often, we catch hypercalcemia early on routine blood tests, and many people don’t even have symptoms. But if it’s more severe or has been going on for a while, you might notice things like:
- Needing to pee more often.
- Feeling really thirsty (polydipsia).
- Constant fatigue.
- Bone pain.
- Headaches.
- Feeling nauseous or even vomiting.
- Constipation.
- Not feeling very hungry.
- Forgetfulness, feeling down, or more irritable than usual.
- Muscle aches, weakness, cramps, or twitches.
What causes primary hyperparathyroidism?
- Parathyroid adenoma: Most often, it’s a small, non-cancerous (benign) growth on one of the glands.
- Parathyroid cancer: This is a much, much rarer cause. We’re talking about 0.005% of all cancers. So, very uncommon.
Hypoparathyroidism: Not Enough Action
On the flip side, there’s hypoparathyroidism. This is a rare condition where your parathyroid glands don’t produce enough PTH. This leads to low calcium levels in your blood (hypocalcemia) and, often, high phosphorus levels.
The most common reason for this, in about 75% of cases, is accidental damage to the glands during neck or thyroid surgery. It’s a known risk, and surgeons are very careful, but sometimes it happens. Other causes can include certain genetic conditions or autoimmune problems.
If it’s not due to surgery, hypoparathyroidism usually comes on very slowly, and the symptoms can be quite mild at first. You might experience:
- A tingling feeling in your lips, fingers, or toes.
- Muscle cramps or even spasms.
- Abdominal pain.
- “Brain fog” or feeling confused.
- An irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).
- Brittle nails.
- Dry hair and dry, scaly skin.
- Cataracts (clouding of the eye lens).
- In children, it can affect tooth enamel, making it weaker.
Keeping Your Parathyroid Glands (and Calcium) Happy
So, what can you do for these tiny but mighty glands? Well, since they’re tucked away behind your thyroid, they’re generally pretty well protected. There isn’t a special diet or exercise just for your parathyroid glands.
But you can help them do their job of keeping your blood calcium in a healthy range. Here are a couple of simple things:
- Get enough Vitamin D: Remember how important Vitamin D is for calcium absorption? It really is. Chat with me or your healthcare provider if you’re wondering whether you might need a supplement. We can check your levels.
- Make sure you’re getting enough calcium in your diet: Your body can’t make calcium, so you need to get it from food. Dairy products, leafy greens, fortified foods – there are lots of options. If you’re concerned you’re not getting enough, let’s talk. A registered dietitian can also be a great resource.
If we ever suspect an issue with your parathyroid glands, we’d typically start with blood tests to check your PTH and calcium levels. Sometimes, imaging tests like an ultrasound or a special scan might be needed. Treatments, if necessary, vary widely depending on whether the glands are overactive or underactive, and what’s causing the problem. It could range from monitoring, medication, to, in some cases of hyperparathyroidism, surgery to remove an overactive gland. We’ll discuss all options thoroughly, so you feel comfortable and informed.
Key Things to Remember About Your Parathyroid Glands
Alright, let’s boil it down. What are the absolute must-knows about your parathyroid glands?
- You have four tiny parathyroid glands, usually behind your thyroid, that make parathyroid hormone (PTH).
- PTH is the main controller of calcium levels in your blood, which is vital for nerves, muscles, blood clotting, and heart function.
- Too much PTH leads to hyperparathyroidism (often causing high blood calcium). This can sometimes be due to a benign growth called a parathyroid adenoma.
- Too little PTH causes hypoparathyroidism (leading to low blood calcium), often a complication of neck surgery.
- Ensuring adequate Vitamin D and dietary calcium intake helps support healthy parathyroid gland function and calcium balance.
You’re not alone in figuring this stuff out. If you ever have concerns about symptoms like ongoing fatigue, muscle aches, or any of the things we’ve talked about, please bring them up. Sometimes, the smallest parts of us have the biggest stories to tell.
