Hypothyroidism Research Paper

Hypoparathyroidism
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What is Hypoparathyroidism?
The parathyroid glands are located in the neck and embedded in the posterior aspect to the thyroid gland. There are usually four, each about the size of a pea.
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is the protein hormone produced by the parathyroid glands.
This hormone regulates calcium and phosphorus metabolism and homeostasis. As serum calcium decreases, PTH is secreted, which increases calcium absorption from the gastrointestinal tract by stimulating calcitriol synthesis; increases calcium reabsorption from the renal tubule, therefore reducing urinary calcium excretion; and releases calcium from the bone by stimulating bone resorption (Saladin, 2007, p. 653).
This increase in serum calcium suppresses …show more content…
1470). If calcium levels increase too much, another mechanism of control is activated as calcitonin is secreted from the thyroid gland.
Hypothyroidism can be diagnosed by a doctor with a TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) test and an evaluation of your symptoms. Symptoms of hypothyroidism may be general, such as tiredness and constipation, and can often be confused with other health conditions. Symptoms usually appear slowly, over several months or years. No one can predict exactly which symptoms a person will develop or how severe the symptoms will be. Some people have many symptoms by the time they are diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Others have few, if any, symptoms. Because the symptoms are so variable, it’s important to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and to have a TSH test.
(Smeltzer et al., 2008, p.1480) Hypocalcemia is the main symptom of
Hypoparathyroidism …show more content…
The most troubling perhaps for the patient are the psychiatric symptoms of anxiety, irritability, depression, psychosis, intellectual impairment, and delirium (Smeltzer et al.,
2008, p. 1473; Velasco, Manshadi, Breen, & Lippmann, 1999).
The cause of hypoparathyroidism i s different from hyperparathyroidism, a much more common condition in which the body makes too much PTH. The most common cause of hypoparathyroidism is injury to the parathyroid glands, such as during head and neck surgery. In other cases, it is present at birth or may be associated with an autoimmune disease.
Hypoparathyroidism
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Treatment
The goal in treatment of hypoparathyroidism is to maintain serum calcium at a level that requires the minimal amount of calcium and vitamin D to achieve symptom relief without causing hypercalciuria (Horwitz & Stewart, 2008). This puts the serum calcium range for hypoparathyroid patients at 8.0-9.0 mg/dl (2.00-2.25 mm) (normal range is 9.0-10.5 mg/dl (2.25- 2.63 mm)) (Horwitz & Stewart, 2008). Vitamin D and

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