Dr. James Norman Creates National Parathyroid Education Foundation

Online, June 18, 2010 (Newswire.com) - TAMPA - June 17, 2010 - Dr. James Norman of the Norman Parathyroid Center in Tampa, FL, has formed the National Parathyroid Education Foundation to educate the public on the early diagnosis of parathyroid disease. The foundation has been awarded a 501(c)(3) designation and is aimed at increasing the awareness of the dangers of high levels of blood calcium caused by a tumor on one of the parathyroid glands. The disease is called hyperparathyroidism and affects about 300,000 people per year in the U.S.

The Foundation was formed at the request of thousands of patients cured of their parathyroid disease who were looking for means to educate other patients suffering from high blood calcium. The Foundation will use ad campaigns in the lay and medical press, as well as many outlets in the new media such as blogs and social networking which will allow the patients themselves to participate and become involved. "We want to help other patients, but we want to educate our doctors too!" says Jenny Bybee, a mother of two from Houston, Texas and former patient of Dr. Norman.

"More than 70% of people with primary hyperparathyroidism are misdiagnosed with more common diseases such as osteoporosis, depression, kidney stones, chronic fatigue and others," Dr. Norman says. "The Foundation was formed to increase awareness of the general public and doctors that it is not normal to have a high blood calcium. It is this high blood calcium that is making people feel so miserable. Unfortunately, many doctors are unaware that the high calcium is the cause of these symptoms so they provide their patients with multiple drugs aimed at treating the symptoms. They don't realize that these patients have grown a hormone-producing tumor in their neck which is causing their troubles."

"Patients who have been cured of their hyperparathyroidism are very motivated to help others," says Mark Latham, CEO of the Foundation. "They are frustrated that it took so long to diagnose their disease and they want to help the thousands of others who are in a similar situation. These motivated patients will be playing a primary role in making the Foundation successful in increasing the awareness of this under-diagnosed disease which is so easy to cure."

James Norman, MD, FACS, FACE, one of the world's foremost experts on parathyroid disease, is the founder of the Norman Parathyroid Center in Tampa, Florida and is the director of the Parathyroid Center at Tampa General Hospital. Dr. Norman is a board certified surgeon and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). He is also a fellow of the American College of Endocrinology (FACE).

About the National Parathyroid Education Foundation
The National Parathyroid Education Foundation is a Tampa-based nonprofit whose mission is to provide earlier diagnosis and cure of parathyroid disease by increasing awareness of the dangers and symptoms of high blood calcium. The Foundation provides educational services to doctors and patients via publications in medical journals, lay media, websites, blogs, and video while providing social networking tools, allowing patients to connect and self-educate for a healthier life. For more information please visit www.ParathyroidFoundation.org