15 Common Causes of High Parathyroid Hormone

The parathyroid glands are a part of the thyroid. These glands are responsible for producing the parathyroid hormone. At times, the parathyroid glands will start to produce too much or too little of this hormone. When the body produces too much parathyroid hormone it is called hyperparathyroidism. Parathyroid hormone regulates calcium and phosphorus in the body. The hormone is responsible for regulating the amount of calcium that is taken from the bones. It also regulates how much calcium is lost during urination and absorbed into the intestines. When a person has too much parathyroid hormone, many health issues may arise. One issue that often occurs as a result of too much parathyroid hormone is osteoporosis. This is where the bones become weak and brittle. Some people are more at risk for developing hyperparathyroidism than others. Here are some of the common causes of high parathyroid hormone. 

1. Gender

While gender cannot really be a cause of a disease, statistically speaking, women are more likely to develop hyperparathyroidism than men. Overall, women are more likely to develop issues with their thyroids in general. The reason for this might be because of the many hormonal changes a woman goes through during her life. From puberty to pregnancy, to menopause, the hormones in a woman’s body change several times throughout her life. This means that the thyroid must work hard to make sure that the hormones remain in balance. At times, the parathyroid may not function the way that it is meant to, which results in too much parathyroid hormone to be produced. When this occurs, other health issues such as osteoporosis may arise. Women are also more at risk of developing osteoporosis than men, which likely correlates with the risk of developing hyperparathyroidism.