Parathyroid Expert Babak Larian, MD, FACS, Helps Assess Who Is Most Likely to Develop Parathyroid Disease
Beverly Hills, CA (PRWEB) February 21, 2014 -- Dr. Babak Larian of the CENTER for Advanced Parathyroid Surgery in Los Angeles today explained who is most likely at risk for parathyroid disease. Even though parathyroid disease is most common in individuals who are older than 50, young people can develop parathyroid tumors, as well. They may even be misdiagnosed because the symptoms of parathyroid disease are often gradual and resemble other conditions.
“If a doctor suspects that a patient has parathyroid disease, he’ll first need to check blood calcium, parathyroid hormone and vitamin D levels,” Dr. Larian said. “When younger patients experience symptoms of hyperparathyroidism, other tests are often performed first because other conditions may seem more likely.”
Hyperparathyroidism occurs when one or more of the parathyroid glands becomes overactive and produces too much of the parathyroid hormone. Most cases of hyperparathyroidism are caused by a benign parathyroid tumor that is causing the gland to become abnormal and overproduce the parathyroid hormone.
“The only function of the parathyroid gland is to regulate the level of calcium in the body and the continuous overproduction of the parathyroid hormone leads to abnormal calcium levels,” Dr. Larian explained. “Calcium affects every cell in the body, so eventually the high levels of calcium take a physical toll on the body.”
Symptoms of hyperparathyroidism range from neuropsychiatric to gastrointestinal to cardiac. For those in their 20s and 30s, parathyroid disease may produce high blood pressure, kidney stones, or broken bones. The calcium imbalance needs to be treated properly so that it doesn’t result in osteoporosis later in life. Those in their 40s and 50s should get routine blood tests to monitor their calcium levels.
“Regardless of your age, the best treatment for parathyroid disease is minimally invasive parathyroidectomy,” Dr. Larian said. “The procedure involves a very small incision in order to take out the problematic parathyroid gland. The surgery has many benefits, including less pain, less scarring, and less recovery time.”
Dr. Babak Larian, the Director of the CENTER for Advanced Parathyroid Surgery in Los Angeles, is a highly experienced and reputable board-certified head and neck surgeon. Dr. Larian is nationally renowned for his expertise in minimally invasive surgery techniques involving parathyroid disorders and is considered a pioneer in his field. Currently, Dr. Larian holds the prestigious honor of Chief of Head & Neck Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at UCLA.
For additional information regarding Dr. Larian and the various services offered at the CENTER for Advanced Parathyroid surgery, please visit http://www.parathyroidmd.com or call 310-461-0300.
Risa Luksa, La Peer Health Systems, http://www.lapeerhealth.com/, +1 310-657-2203, [email protected]
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