Hyperparathyroidism | Complications


What does hyperparathyroidism do to your body?

Normally, the amount of calcium going into your bones matches the amount of calcium passing out of your bones. This means that the amount of calcium in your bones should stay about the same all the time. If you have hyperparathyroidism, more calcium is coming out of your bones than is going back in. When this happens, your bones might hurt, ache or become weak. Weak bones break more easily and heal slower than normal bones.

The calcium from your bones enters your bloodstream, causing your blood to have too much calcium. Too much calcium in your blood can cause high blood pressure. You might also develop kidney stones, because your kidneys are trying to filter out the extra calcium in your blood. Too much calcium in your kidneys might also make you thirsty or increase your need to urinate.

Untreated hyperparathyroidism in women who are pregnant can cause their babies to be calcium deficient, which is dangerous to the developing fetus.

These complications tend to develop slowly, so you may not notice them at first.

Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff

Reviewed/Updated: 03/14
Created: 09/00