Causes & Risk Factors Of Osteitis Fibrosa Cystica
Osteitis fibrosa cystica is a disease in which the patient has at least one over-active parathyroid gland producing too much parathyroid hormone, known as hyperparathyroidism. This causes the bones to become soft, weak, and deformed. It can be cancerous or noncancerous, is painful, and can also produce cysts. Before 1950, about fifty percent of the population diagnosed with hyperthyroidism also had osteitis fibrosa cystica. In modern times, this has dramatically decreased to less than ten percent. The reason for this decrease is because doctors can diagnose hyperthyroidism in its earlier stages. Start reading now to get familiar with the various causes and major risk factors for osteitis fibrosa cystica now.
Primary Hyperparathyroidism
The human body has parathyroid glands, which are part of the human endocrine system, located in the neck, on or near the thyroid gland. The parathyroid glands regulate the body’s calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D. When one or both of the glands is overactive and is producing too much parathyroid hormone, it is referred to as primary hyperparathyroidism. The term primary is used when this disorder begins first in the parathyroid glands. Many times there are no noticed symptoms. When parathyroid glands produce too much hormone, an increased level of calcium is released into the blood from the bones. This can ultimately lead to weaker bones and sometimes kidney stones.
Get to more causes and risk factors now.
Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
Some patients experience secondary hyperparathyroidism, which is when the parathyroid glands over-produce the parathyroid hormone due to hypocalcemia and hyperplasia of the glands. Patients with chronic kidney failure show more evidence of this. When the kidneys are failing, vitamin D is not turned to its active form and phosphate is not excreted sufficiently, causing calcium phosphate to form which removes calcium from the blood circulation. Symptoms include bone and joint pain, and the patient’s limbs may become deformed. If secondary hyperparathyroidism is brought on by hypocalcemia, then fixing the cause of hypocalcemia will also resolve it.
Continue reading to learn about more causes and risk factors of osteitis fibrosa cystica now.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D helps the intestines to absorb calcium from the blood, though this does not happen without the parathyroid hormone. There are two ways to get active vitamin D: absorbing it from the food or vitamins taken, or soaking in good sunlight, which causes the body to create it.
It is hard to absorb calcium if there is vitamin D deficiency. In turn, the parathyroid glands increase their hormone output to increase calcium levels. This means the glands will take calcium from the bones, leading back to why bones become weaker and begin to deform. The good news is this means the parathyroid glands are actually healthy.
Continue reading for more on causes and risk factors of osteitis fibrosa cystica now.
Calcium Deficiency
Calcium keeps bones healthy and strong, helps nerve cells transmit signals, and aids in muscle contraction. The body can have too high calcium levels in the blood (hypercalcemia) or too low calcium levels in the bones (hypocalcemia). If there is a high level of calcium in the blood, parathyroid hormone is produced less. Complications of calcium and phosphorous levels include osteoporosis, kidney stones, cardiovascular disease, and neonatal hypoparathyroidism. Someone with a calcium deficiency may experience muscle spasms, memory loss, muscle cramps, brittle nails, depression, and numbness in the hands, feet, and face. To be sure proper amounts of calcium are absorbed daily, it is important to eat foods high in calcium and make sure hormones are in balance.
Continue reading to learn about more causes and risk factors of osteitis fibrosa cystica now.
Parathyroid Cancer
Parathyroid cancer occurs when malignant cells are in the parathyroid gland. Studies show an individual’s DNA background could increase their chances of developing this cancer. Symptoms include weakness, being tired, or a lump in the neck. However, a diagnosis does not have to mean it is terminal. There is an estimated eighty-eight percent survival rate within five years and an estimated forty-nine percent survival rate within ten years. Treatment varies from parathyroid tumor surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and resolving hypercalcemia. The doctor’s goal is to get rid of the tumor while at the same time controlling calcium in the blood.