High Calcium Levels Are Usually Caused By Hyperparathyroidism.
Primary hyperparathyroidism is the most common cause of a high calcium level among adults who are otherwise generally healthy. It will affect about 1 in 100 adults in their lifetime, and in women, more like 1 in every 50.
What are the symptoms of hyperparathyroidism?
A persistent high calcium level can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including:
- Decrease in energy levels
- Lack of interest in usual activities
- Concentration problems
- Bone pain
- Difficulty sleeping
- Daytime tiredness
- Irritability
- Decreasing memory
- Thinning hair
- Headaches
- Palpitations, rapid heart rate, or atrial fibrillation
- Variable blood pressure, hard to control
- Excessive thirst and urination
- Decreased libido or sex drive
- Reflux symptoms
Symptoms may be subtle, but delaying treatment can be dangerous.
“When we treat hyperparathyroidism early, we can cure it before it damages your body. If you have a high calcium level, take it seriously and get additional testing.”
High Calcium Levels Are Usually Caused By Hyperparathyroidism.
Some patients have almost all of the symptoms listed above, some have very few or even none. But even if you have none of the usual symptoms, the high calcium can over time cause damage to the bones and kidneys, as well as other organs.
Osteoporosis
Patients with hyperparathyroidism, and the high calcium associated with it, are at increased risk for developing osteoporosis. This disease is a weakening of the bones due to leaching out of calcium over time, and this commonly is most prominent in the forearm, lower back, and hip bones. So it should come as no surprise that these are the areas where bones may break. Most patients with osteoporosis have developed the disease for reasons other than hyperparathyroidism, but a high blood calcium level adds to the weakening process. After curative parathyroid surgery for hyperparathyroidism, research has confirmed that the progressive changes of osteoporosis are reversible.
Kidney Stones
It is well known that patients with hyperparathyroidism, and the high calcium associated with it are at increased risk for developing kidney stones. They have excess PTH secretion, which increases the serum calcium level, and secondarily increases the amount of calcium excreted in the urine. This higher concentration of urinary calcium leads to the increased risk for developing kidney stones, which are typically comprised of calcium.
Are You Experiencing Brain Fog or Fatigue?
Perhaps you and your doctors have been unable to come up with an explanation for your symptoms, such as tiredness, “brain fog”, problems with concentration or memory, or a number of other symptoms. In your search for an explanation for your symptoms, you may have found this website, thinking that perhaps you have hyperparathyroidism.
If you have a calcium level in the high nines, or certainly above 10, then you should definitely be evaluated for this possibility. If your PTH level and serum calcium are elevated, then you can rest assured that a curative operation will be a huge step in getting your life back in order, with resolution of some or all of your symptoms.
To avoid these complications, early diagnosis and treatment is key.
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, there is good reason to proceed with a simple curative outpatient operation that is successful about 97% of the time.
“Dr. Kennedy is such a kind and caring surgeon that went way beyond what was expected…”
“What a great doctor & practice! I highly recommend him…”
“I would (and do every chance I get) recommend him and DeKalb Surgical Associates to anyone who needs parathyroid surgery!”
“Finally! I could exhale…it felt good knowing I was going to be in good hands.”
“He is top notch and I have recommended him to other people!”
“Dr. Kennedy, his staff and the DeKalb Hospital made it one of the best experiences I could have had. I highly recommend them.”
“I found Dr. Kennedy to be thorough, caring, explained everything in language I could understand…”
“I’m so glad I found you on the web Dr. Kennedy!”
“I was so sick with parathyroid tumors. I couldn’t walk without assistance and was slowly dying… Dr Kennedy saved my life May 2017”
“The minimally invasive outpatient parathyroid surgery has been perfected by myself and my amazing staff through hundreds of successful procedures. We arrange everything from tests for confirmation, to insurance precertification and authorization, to lodging options, to ensure every patient’s individual needs are met.”
Dr John Kennedy
Dr Kennedy and his informative, experienced, and caring medical staff provide patients with an unparalleled level of comfort. From scheduling your appointment to the procedure itself, everything is taken care of with compassion and professionalism.
Dr. John Kennedy, MD, FACS
Dr. John S. Kennedy of DeKalb Surgical Associates is one of the nation’s leading experts in parathyroid surgery to cure hyperparathyroidism. Parathyroid surgery is a procedure that requires great precision; one that if performed correctly almost always leads to an immediate cure of hyperparathyroidism. As a past president of the Georgia Surgical Society, he has repeatedly been recognized as a Top Doctor by the U.S. News and World Report. His focus on quality is reflected in his selection in the past as Chairman for Quality Integration for one of the American College of Surgeons programs.
Dr. Kennedy received his medical degree from Temple University then went to Emory University for his surgical residency. At Emory, he studied with Dr. William McGarity, one of the leading parathyroid experts of the time. In 1995, he learned the latest minimally invasive parathyroid surgical techniques from Dr. James Norman of the Norman Parathyroid Center, a pioneer in this approach.
Whether you live in the Atlanta, Georgia area or are traveling for the procedure, patients are in the skilled hands of a surgeon who has removed hundreds of unhealthy parathyroids using the latest techniques. Dr. John S. Kennedy finds it very fulfilling to cure his patients so completely of the symptoms and health risks of high calcium. 97% of his patients are immediately cured of hyperparathyroidism.
Interested in Learning More?
If you want to better understand your High Calcium Levels or have already been diagnosed with Hyperparathyroidism, our staff is ready to answer all your questions and assist you with making the important choices in the future. We hope to help you soon.