Norman Parathyroid Center pushes awareness of treatable hormone disorder

The Norman Parathyroid Center is using Parathyroid Awareness Month to urge earlier testing and treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism, a common condition that can damage bones, kidneys, heart and brain if ignored. The campaign highlights symptoms, simple blood testing and new educational resources during July.

Why it matters: - Primary hyperparathyroidism is common, often missed and highly curable. - Delayed diagnosis can lead to irreversible harm, including osteoporosis, fractures, kidney stones, cardiovascular disease, stroke, cognitive decline and damage to vital organs. - The Norman Parathyroid Center says early testing can prevent years of unnecessary suffering.

What happened: - The Norman Parathyroid Center at the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery is marking Parathyroid Awareness Month by urging patients and healthcare providers to recognize symptoms of primary hyperparathyroidism. - The awareness push centers on educating patients, advocating for testing and encouraging faster action in July. - July 22 is Hyperparathyroidism Awareness Day, an annual observance focused on public education and earlier diagnosis.

The details: - Primary hyperparathyroidism is caused by one or more benign tumors on the parathyroid glands that produce too much parathyroid hormone, which raises blood calcium levels. - The disease is underdiagnosed because symptoms are often mistaken for aging, menopause, stress or other conditions. - Common symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, depression, mood changes, bone loss, osteoporosis, kidney stones, muscle weakness, joint pain, high blood pressure, heart palpitations and higher cardiovascular risk. - For adults over 40, calcium levels above 10.0 mg/dL should not be dismissed as normal, even if a lab reference range says otherwise. - Diagnosis requires two blood tests: calcium and parathyroid hormone, or PTH. - The Parathyroid Health Panel is available at more than 240 Any Lab Test Now locations nationwide. - The panel includes calcium and PTH testing. - No physician referral is required. - Patients can walk into participating locations or schedule an appointment online. - The Norman Parathyroid Center also points patients to a new Q&A video on its YouTube channel with Dr. Jamie Mitchell, the center's medical director and a parathyroid surgeon. - The video covers diagnosis, treatment and recovery. - More information is available at Parathyroid Awareness Month and patient evaluation and treatment.

Between the lines: - The campaign is pushing back against a long-standing