Key takeaways
- Hypoparathyroidism results from insufficient parathyroid hormone, leading to low blood calcium and high phosphorus levels, whereas hypothyroidism is due to an underactive thyroid gland, causing a slowdown of bodily functions.
- While both conditions are endocrine disorders with some overlapping symptoms like dry skin and depression, they affect different glands and require distinct diagnostic tests, such as blood tests for hormone and mineral levels.
- Management of hypoparathyroidism may involve calcium and vitamin D supplements or PTH therapy, while hypothyroidism is primarily treated with levothyroxine to restore thyroid hormone levels.
Hypothyroidism and hypoparathyroidism are both endocrine disorders, meaning the conditions affect specific hormones.
When the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone, it causes hypothyroidism.
The parathyroid glands sit behind the thyroid gland, and when they fail to produce enough parathyroid hormone (PTH), hypoparathyroidism develops, a condition considered rare.
While they sound similar, each condition is different and requires different treatment.
The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck. There are four parathyroid glands, which are about the size of a pea, and are found at the back of the thyroid gland.
Let’s look at how hypoparathyroidism and hypothyroidism differ.
Hypoparathyroidism
The parathyroid glands are responsible for producing PTH, which regulates calcium and phosphorus in your blood. It also determines bone cell activity and bone growth.
The body uses calcium to:
- maintain and build bone strength
- help muscles to contract
- help nerves work correctly
- help the brain function properly
- regulate blood pressure and heart rhythm
Phosphorus works by:
- helping the body use food for energy
- helping specific organs and nerves work properly
In hypoparathyroidism, the parathyroid glands do not produce enough PTH, leading to low blood calcium (hypocalcemia) and elevated phosphorus (hyperphosphatemia).
Hypothyroidism
The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones, which are distributed throughout the body. Thyroid hormones work to:
- help the body use energy
- control metabolism
- maintain body warmth
- help organs and muscles work correctly
In hypothyroidism, also known as an underactive thyroid, the thyroid gland produces insufficient thyroid hormone, which can slow the body down and affect multiple bodily functions.
Both hypoparathyroidism and hypothyroidism are endocrine disorders, which means that they both affect bodily functions due to insufficient amounts of hormones being produced.
Though each condition is distinct, some symptoms are similar in each condition.
Symptoms of hypoparathyroidism and hypothyroidism can vary and differ from person to person. The table below lists some symptoms of both conditions.
| Hypoparathyroidism | Hypothyroidism |
|---|---|
| muscle cramps and spasms | joint and muscle pain |
| facial, leg, foot, or stomach pain | weight gain |
| feeling weak | fatigue |
| noticing hair loss or dry hair | noticing dry or thinning hair |
| noticing dry skin | noticing dry skin |
| tingling sensations in lips, fingers, and toes | difficulty regulating temperature or feeling cold |
| headaches | constipation |
| difficulties with memory | slower heart rate |
| depression | depression |
| pain with menstrual periods | heavy or irregular menstrual periods or fertility problems |
The most
Some other causes of hypoparathyroidism include:
- having genetic conditions, such as
DiGeorge syndrome - receiving some immunotherapy medication therapies
- having too much or too little magnesium
- experiencing the spreading of other cells, such as immune cells or nearby cancerous thyroid cells, into or around the parathyroid glands
- experiencing radiation injury, such as from radiation therapy for thyroid cancer
- having acute health conditions or severe burns that cause magnesium and calcium deficiency
There are many possible causes of hypothyroidism, including:
- autoimmune conditions, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
- thyroid surgery, such as that undertaken for cancer, or the procedure leaving the thyroid unable to make enough thyroid hormone
- radiation treatment, such as for thyroid cancer
- born without a thyroid or with a thyroid that did not grow as expected
- inflammation of the thyroid, known as thyroiditis
- insufficient iodine levels
- damage to the pituitary gland, which is the gland that sends instructions to the thyroid gland
To diagnose hypoparathyroidism, a doctor will typically order blood tests to measure phosphorus, calcium, and PTH levels. Our kidneys remove calcium from the body through our urine, so a doctor may also order a urine test to check how much calcium is being removed.
To diagnose hypothyroidism, doctors will typically order a range of blood tests. The two main blood tests include thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (free T4). In hypothyroidism, TSH levels increase, and free T4 levels decrease.
Treatment for hypoparathyroidism often
If your blood calcium levels do not stabilize with supplements, a doctor may recommend PTH therapy, which is an injectable medication.
If you are losing a lot of calcium through urine, a doctor may prescribe diuretics (water pills).
The main
Hypoparathyroidism and hypothyroidism are both endocrine disorders, meaning they affect hormones.
Some symptoms of each condition are similar, but they are distinct conditions that affect two different glands: the thyroid and the parathyroid.
Both conditions are treatable and may require long-term medication for successful management.