Osteoporosis and Calcium Disorders in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is osteoporosis and calcium disorders care?
Osteoporosis and calcium disorders care is the hormone side of bone health: finding out why bones are thinning or why blood calcium is too high or too low, and treating the gland responsible. At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, this service is provided by the endocrinology team.
Calcium in the blood is held in a narrow range by four small parathyroid glands in the neck, which work with vitamin D and the kidneys. Parathyroid hormone draws calcium out of bone when blood levels dip, and active vitamin D pulls calcium in from food. When this system goes wrong, bone is often the first place to pay, which is why calcium problems and osteoporosis are managed together.
Fracture care and falls prevention after a broken bone are covered on the orthopaedic osteoporosis management page. This page covers the endocrine work: the causes that sit in glands and blood chemistry.
Who needs it
This endocrine service is usually suited to people with:
- a raised calcium level found on a routine blood test, often with no symptoms at all
- a low calcium level, or tingling around the mouth and fingertips with muscle cramps, especially after neck or thyroid surgery
- a raised parathyroid hormone level, with calcium that is high or normal
- osteoporosis at a younger age than expected, in a man, or in a woman before menopause
- bone density that keeps falling despite treatment
- kidney stones together with abnormal calcium
- conditions known to thin bone, such as an overactive thyroid, long-term steroid use, Cushing's syndrome, early menopause, low testosterone or coeliac disease
High calcium has a classic set of complaints doctors remember as "stones, bones and groans": kidney stones, aching bones, and tummy pain, constipation, thirst, tiredness and low mood.
What happens
The first visit reviews your symptoms, fractures, kidney stones, previous neck surgery, medicines and supplements, including calcium tablets, vitamin D, water tablets and lithium. The endocrinology team then arranges the tests that separate one calcium disorder from another:
| Test | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Calcium, corrected for albumin | the true calcium level, since calcium travels partly bound to a blood protein |
| Parathyroid hormone | whether the parathyroid glands are driving the calcium |
| Vitamin D and phosphate | whether low vitamin D is pushing the glands to overwork |
| Kidney function | how well the kidneys are handling calcium |
| Urine calcium | whether calcium is being lost in the urine, and stone risk |
| Bone density scan | how much bone has been affected |
One useful pattern: a high parathyroid hormone level with normal calcium often comes from low vitamin D, so the team corrects the vitamin D first and then repeats the tests. Vitamin D testing runs in the hospital laboratory.
Treatment follows the cause. An overactive parathyroid gland may be watched with regular tests or treated with parathyroidectomy, with the endocrinology team preparing you for surgery and following your calcium afterwards. Low calcium is corrected and its cause treated. For osteoporosis, the team treats any hormone cause first and then selects bone-strengthening treatment, making sure calcium and vitamin D are at healthy levels before some treatments begin.
Preparing for it
Bring all previous calcium, vitamin D and parathyroid results, bone density reports and any kidney stone analysis. List every supplement you take, with brand names written down, since many multivitamins and bone supplements contain calcium and vitamin D. Ask when booking about fasting and about whether to pause calcium tablets before a blood test or a bone density scan.
If you have had thyroid or neck surgery, bring the operation note or discharge letter. Women should note the age their periods stopped, and men any symptoms of low testosterone, since both change the plan.
Afterwards
Most calcium disorders are followed with repeat blood tests at intervals the endocrinology team sets. Drink plenty of water, particularly with raised calcium or a history of kidney stones; in the Sharjah summer and during Ramadan fasting, plan fluids for the hours you can drink. Keep dietary calcium steady from food such as dairy, leafy greens and fish with soft bones, and take supplements only as advised.
After parathyroid surgery, calcium can dip for a time as the remaining glands wake up, so your calcium is checked and supplements may be given for a short period.
Contact the hospital if you notice tingling around the mouth or in the fingers, muscle cramps, or increasing thirst, constipation and tiredness. **Go to the emergency department straight away if you have muscle spasms in the hands or face, a seizure, confusion or severe vomiting.**
Cost and insurance
UAE insurance plans usually cover endocrinology consultations, calcium and parathyroid blood tests and bone density scans when there is a clinical reason. Localisation scans for the parathyroid glands, surgery and injectable or infused bone treatments commonly need pre-approval. Supplements are often self-funded. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your cover on 06 599 7777.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
What are the risks of high calcium if it is left untreated?
High calcium that stays raised over years can lead to kidney stones, reduced kidney function, thinning bones and fractures, and in severe cases confusion and dehydration. The risks depend on how high the level is and on your age and bone density, and the endocrinology team explains whether watching or treating suits you.
Why is my calcium high when I feel completely well?
Raised calcium is often found on a routine blood test in people who feel well, and the most common cause is an overactive parathyroid gland. Mild high calcium can cause few symptoms for years, which is why a repeat test and a parathyroid hormone level are the next step.
Does everyone with an overactive parathyroid gland need surgery?
Not everyone with an overactive parathyroid gland needs surgery. Surgery is usually recommended when calcium is clearly raised, bones are thinning, kidney stones or kidney changes appear, or you are younger, while mild cases can be followed with regular tests.
Should I stop calcium-rich foods if my calcium is high?
Cutting out calcium-rich foods is usually unnecessary with high calcium, and a very low calcium intake can push the parathyroid glands to work harder. The endocrinology team advises on a steady, normal intake and on stopping calcium or vitamin D supplements where needed.
Why do I need an endocrinologist for osteoporosis?
An endocrine review for osteoporosis is useful when bone loss is earlier or faster than expected, affects a man or a younger woman, or continues despite treatment, because a hormone cause may be driving it. Treating that cause protects bone alongside bone-strengthening treatment.
Can low calcium happen after thyroid surgery?
Low calcium can happen after thyroid surgery, because the parathyroid glands sit beside the thyroid and may be stunned or affected during the operation. It is usually temporary and is treated with supplements while the glands recover, with blood tests to guide how long they are needed.
Can kidney stones be a sign of a calcium problem?
Kidney stones can be a sign of a calcium problem, particularly an overactive parathyroid gland or high calcium loss in the urine. Anyone with repeated stones benefits from a calcium and parathyroid hormone blood test.
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