The parathyroid glands are small glands located within the tissue of the bigger thyroid gland in the neck. The parathyroid glands secrete parathyroid hormone, which is involved in the maintenance of normal calcium levels in the body. Dysfunction...
Hyperparathyroidism is a condition in which the parathyroid glands secrete too much parathyroid hormone, or PTH. The primary function of PTH is to maintain calcium levels in the blood. To do this, PTH stimulates bone resorption, thereby increasing...
Parathyroid disease is caused by malfunctioning parathyroid glands. If the parathyroid glands are overactive, the condition is called hyperparathyroidism and results in high levels of calcium in the blood and urine. Roughly half of all cases of...
Approximately 1 percent of the calcium in your body is located in your blood and soft tissues. The levels of calcium in your blood are tightly controlled by the parathyroid glands, which are four small glands located on the thyroid gland in the...
Hypercalcemia is an electrolyte imbalance characterized by high levels of calcium in the blood. Certain medications, parathyroid disease or some cancers can cause the condition. While mild hypercalcemia may not produce symptoms at first, as...
Calcium, that important mineral you may think of in connection with foods like milk or cheese, is vital for good health. In addition to its well-known role as part of the structure in bones and teeth, calcium affects the functions of your blood...
The body requires an ideal internal environment in order to function properly. The kidneys maintain an ideal internal environment by filtering the blood of excessive and toxic substances and eliminating them through urine production. Kidney stones...
Minimally invasive parathyroid surgery was developed in the 1990s to treat hyperparathyroidism. The only treatment for hyperparathyroidism is to remove the parathyroid gland that is causing the problem. Parathyroid surgery used to be a more...
Calcium is one of the most essential minerals in the body, especially for women. Most of the calcium in your body is needed to build and maintain strong bones, with a small amount needed for proper functioning of the heart, muscles and other...
The Linus Pauling Institute reports that the bones and teeth contain 99 percent of the calcium in the body. When the bones lose too much calcium, osteoporosis occurs. This loss of bone density causes pain and impairs mobility. Calcium...
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body. Calcium promotes normal muscle contraction and blood vessel contraction and expansion. It is essential for transmitting electrical impulses throughout the nervous system and secretion of...
Calcium deficiency is typically caused by an overactive parathyroid gland or a diet without calcium-rich foods. When the parathyroid gland malfunctions and creates too much parathyroid hormone a calcium deficiency and numerous problematic symptoms...
Your parathyroid glands help to maintain normal blood calcium levels -- between 8.5 to 10.2 mg per deciliter of blood. The parathyroid gland releases parathyroid hormone when blood calcium levels dip below 8.5 mg/dL, which causes the body to...
There are a number of reasons for high systolic blood pressure. Some are temporary, like recently smoking or taking a decongestant. Some are chronic, such as having essential hypertension or kidney disease. According to the National Heart Lung...
Dicalcium phosphate is a calcium supplement commonly found in prepared breakfast cereals, in pharmaceuticals as an inert ingredient to bind tablets, and in toothpastes. However, too much dicalcium phosphate, or dicalcium phosphate taken in...
The parathyroid consists of four tiny glands in the neck. They're called parathyroid because of their proximity to the thyroid. The parathyroid controls the amount of calcium in your bones and blood. These glands make a hormone called parathyroid...
The primary way humans get vitamin D into their bodies is by absorbing it through the skin during exposure to the sun. Vitamin D is also found in certain foods and is fat soluble. It's essential to calcium and phosphorus metabolism, and necessary...
Even though you can't see them, electrolytes-- minerals that carry electrical changes-- continually move across cell membranes to maintain a balance between your cells and your blood. Electrolytes in your body include bicarbonate, calcium,...
Calcium citrate is the calcium salt of citric acid which is sometimes referred to as "sour salt" because it tastes both sour and salty. It is one of the two primary forms of calcium found in supplements. Talk to your doctor before taking calcium...
According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, calcium is the most abundant mineral in your body. Ninety-nine percent of your calcium stores are sequestered within your bones and teeth, while the remaining 1 percent is...
Calcium is a mineral salt necessary for the healthy functioning of many organs and body systems, including your heart, nerves and muscles. The parathyroid glands, located on the thyroid gland in your neck, regulate calcium levels through the...
Hypercalcemia is a condition marked by elevated levels of calcium in your bloodstream. Although calcium is necessary for bone health and proper heart function, too much calcium in your blood can cause symptoms such as gastrointestinal problems,...
As you approach and go through menopause, your ovaries stop making the hormone estrogen, which helps protect against bone loss. After menopause, you're at a greater risk for bone loss; this is why the National Institutes of Health recommends you...
Most of us know that the mineral calcium, available in food and supplement sources as calcium phosphate, builds bones and teeth, but it also works in conjunction with other minerals to maintain cardiovascular health, prevent colorectal cancer,...
There are several different parathyroid diseases, but parathyroid cancer is rare. It can affect men and women alike and usually is seen in patients older than 30. It affects less than 1 out of every 1000 patients in the United States and is so...
The bones are not a static tissue; instead, bone material constantly is being broken down and reformed in normal people. If this process becomes disrupted, it can cause bones to become brittle and easily broken. Adynamic bone disease is a problem...
Calcium citrate is the calcium salt from citric acid found in the over-the-counter supplement of Citracal that prevents or treats calcium deficiencies. For example, postmenopausal women often are advised to take calcium supplements in order to...
Calcium glubionate, also known as glubionate calcium, is a nutritional supplement containing calcium. The supplement is available in powdered or liquid forms, as well as in chewable or effervescent tablets. Consult your doctor before starting to...
According to Jacoby and Youngson in "Encyclopedia of Family Health," the region that pain most often occurs in the back is the lumbar region, or lower back. The potential causes of such back pain are limitless; pain can manifest gradually or...
