Risk factors

You may be at an increased risk of primary hyperparathyroidism if you:

• Are a woman who has gone through menopause
• Have had prolonged, severe calcium or vitamin D deficiency
• Have a rare, inherited disorder, such as multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 1, which usually affects multiple glands
• Have had radiation treatment for cancer that has exposed your neck to radiation
• Have taken lithium, a drug most often used to treat bipolar disorder