The sensitive process of calcium and phosphate homeostasis in the blood is primarily maintained by a properly functioning parathyroid gland. The parathyroid gland is made up of four small glands located in the middle of the anterior neck, posterior to the thyroid. In response to low calcium levels in the blood, the parathyroid gland secretes parathyroid hormone (PTH), a polypeptide. In the kidneys, PTH promotes the synthesis of active vitamin D, calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol). PTH regulates calcium and phosphate in conjunction with calcitriol. PTH has effects in the bones, kidneys, and small intestine.
Calcium levels in the blood act as a negative feedback loop, signalling the parathyroid glands to stop producing PTH. The mechanism of PTH in the body is complex, and irregularities have serious clinical consequences. The understanding of PTH is extremely important.
What is parathyroid hormone?
PTH is a hormone produced and released by your parathyroid glands to regulate the level of calcium in your blood, not your bones. Calcium is one of the most important and widely distributed minerals in your body. PTH also regulates phosphorus (a mineral) and vitamin D (a hormone) levels in your blood and bones.
Hormones are chemicals that help your body coordinate different functions by transporting messages through your blood to your organs, muscles, and other tissues. These signals instruct your body on what to do and when to do it.
Low levels of parathyroid hormone
Hypoparathyroidism is characterised by decreased parathyroid hormone secretion or activity (PTH). PTH deficiency causes decreased blood calcium levels (hypocalcemia) and increased blood phosphorus levels (hyperphosphatemia). Other than the symptoms associated with low blood calcium, there are no symptoms of insufficient parathyroid hormone. This needs to be said again: the symptoms are caused by a lack of calcium in the blood, not a lack of PTH. The lack of calcium in the blood is, of course, caused by a lack of PTH.
Symptoms of low levels of PTH
Low level of PTH doesn’t show symptoms but the deficiency of blood calcium does. The symptoms we experience are due to lack of calcium in blood. But, hypoparathyroidism is the cause of deficiency of calcium in the blood. So, symptoms of low levels of calcium in blood are also symptoms of hypoparathyroidism. Such symptoms are mentioned below.
Symptoms:
Hypoparathyroidism or low level of PTH can manifest as the following signs and symptoms:
- Tingling or burning sensations in your fingers, toes, and lips
- Muscle aches or cramps in your legs, feet, stomach, or face Muscle twitching or spasms, particularly around your mouth, but also in your hands, arms, and throat -Fatigue or weakness
- Patchy hair loss -Painful menstrual periods
- Brittle nails dry
- coarse skin
- anxiety or depression.
What are parathyroid glands?
The majority of people have four pea-sized parathyroid glands located behind their thyroid gland, which is the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck. Your parathyroid glands, like your thyroid, are part of your endocrine system. Your parathyroid glands can be found along your oesophagus or in your chest. These are referred to as ectopic (in an abnormal location) parathyroid glands.
A gland is an organ that secretes (releases) substances for use within the body or secretes substances from the body. There are several types of glands in your body, including sweat glands, endocrine glands, and salivary (spit) glands.
The primary function of your parathyroid glands is to produce parathyroid hormone (PTH). Sometimes your parathyroid gland releases too little PTH, resulting in low calcium levels in your blood (hypocalcemia), or too much PTH, resulting in high calcium levels in your blood (hypercalcemia) (hypercalcemia). Both of these conditions can result in serious health issues.
What happens if I have an overabundance of parathyroid hormone?
Primary hyperparathyroidism is caused by the parathyroid glands producing too much parathyroid hormone, which causes elevated calcium levels in the blood (hypercalcaemia).
Tertiary hyperparathyroidism is a similar but much rarer condition that causes hypercalcaemia due to excess parathyroid hormone production as a result of all four glands being overactive.Secondary hyperparathyroidism develops in response to low blood calcium levels and is caused by a variety of factors, including kidney disease and vitamin D deficiency.
Mild primary hyperparathyroidism frequently causes few, if any, symptoms and is frequently diagnosed by a high calcium concentration found on a routine blood test. The affected gland(s) may be surgically removed as part of the treatment.
Conclusion
The sensitive process of calcium and phosphate homeostasis in the blood is primarily maintained by a properly functioning parathyroid gland. The parathyroid gland is made up of four small glands located in the middle of the anterior neck, posterior to the thyroid. In response to low calcium levels in the blood, the parathyroid gland secretes parathyroid hormone , a polypeptide. Calcium levels in the blood act as a negative feedback loop, signalling the parathyroid glands to stop producing PTH. PTH is a hormone produced and released by your parathyroid glands to regulate the level of calcium in your blood, not your bones.