What is hyperparathyroidism?
You have 4 pea-sized glands behind the thyroid gland at the front of your neck. These glands are called parathyroids. They make a hormone called parathyroid hormone (PTH) that keeps the right levels of calcium and phosphorus in your body. PTH helps you absorb calcium from your food and keeps you from losing too much calcium through your urine.
Hyperparathyroidism occurs when your parathyroid glands make too much PTH and cause you to have too much calcium in the bloodstream.
The parathyroid glands are the 4 pea-sized glands (in yellow, above) located behind the thyroid gland.
Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff
Reviewed/Updated: 11/10
Created: 09/00