Osteoporosis Awareness Month puts hyperparathyroidism in focus

By AI, Created 11:15 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Doctors in Tampa are using Osteoporosis Awareness & Prevention Month to highlight hyperparathyroidism as a frequently missed cause of bone loss, fatigue, kidney stones and elevated calcium. The campaign urges patients with osteoporosis or related symptoms to ask about calcium and PTH testing.

Why it matters: - Hyperparathyroidism can quietly weaken bones by pulling calcium from the skeleton, raising the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. - The condition is often overlooked in women over 50, a group already facing higher osteoporosis risk after menopause. - Earlier diagnosis can change treatment for patients whose bone loss, fatigue or kidney stones stem from an underlying endocrine disorder.

What happened: - During Osteoporosis Awareness & Prevention Month, the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery and the Norman Parathyroid Center highlighted hyperparathyroidism as a possible hidden cause of osteoporosis, kidney stones, elevated calcium, chronic fatigue, brain fog, muscle weakness and declining bone density. - The awareness push is centered in Tampa, Florida, where the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery and the Norman Parathyroid Center are based. - Dr. Jamie Mitchell, medical director at the Norman Parathyroid Center, said many patients are treated for osteoporosis without learning the root cause of their bone loss. - Dr. Mitchell said hyperparathyroidism is highly curable with minimally invasive surgery.

The details: - Primary hyperparathyroidism occurs when one or more parathyroid glands become overactive and produce too much parathyroid hormone, or PTH. - Elevated PTH removes calcium from bones and releases it into the bloodstream. - Symptoms can develop slowly and include fatigue, joint pain, memory issues, anxiety, depression, insomnia, kidney stones and unexplained bone loss. - Osteoporosis or a fracture may be the first warning sign in some patients. - Dr. Mitchell said proper diagnosis and expert surgery can improve bone density, energy levels, cognitive function and overall quality of life. - The Hospital for Endocrine Surgery says it is home to the world’s highest-volume endocrine surgery program focused on thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal disorders. - The Norman Parathyroid Center says its surgeons perform thousands of minimally invasive parathyroid procedures each year with a focus on rapid recovery and long-term cure. - The campaign encourages people diagnosed with osteoporosis, osteopenia, kidney stones, elevated calcium or persistent fatigue to ask a healthcare provider about blood calcium and PTH testing. - More information is available at the parathyroid center website.

Between the lines: - The message is aimed at closing a common diagnostic gap: bone loss is often treated as the problem, while the hormone disorder driving it goes unrecognized. - The emphasis on screenings reflects a broader preventive-care push during Osteoporosis Awareness Month. - The release also leans on the centers’ surgical volume and specialty focus to reinforce credibility around diagnosis and treatment.

What’s next: - Physicians are expected to keep urging patients with osteoporosis-related symptoms to discuss calcium and PTH testing during routine care. - The centers are likely to continue using awareness campaigns to direct patients toward evaluation for hyperparathyroidism. - The combination of screening and minimally invasive surgery is positioned as the path to earlier intervention and better bone outcomes.

The bottom line: - Hyperparathyroidism is being cast as a treatable, often missed cause of osteoporosis, and the key takeaway is to look for the underlying hormone disorder before bone loss progresses.