Living With Hypophosphatasia (HPP) Feeling held back by HPP?
You’re not alone
You’re not alone
Hypophosphatasia (high po fos fuh tay zha), also known as HPP, happens when the body has low levels of working alkaline phosphatase (ALP), an enzyme that does several important jobs. HPP can have a big impact on daily life, affect different parts of the body, and get worse over time if not addressed.
Discovering what’s happening in your body may make the difference that helps you take the next step with confidence.
Enzyme = a helper protein in the body that speeds up important processes so your body can work properly.
Discovering what’s happening in your body may make the difference that helps you take the next step with confidence.
Enzyme = a helper protein in the body that speeds up important processes so your body can work properly.
Why ALP matters for your body
Your body needs ALP to help it do important jobs, such as:
- Build strong bones
- Keep your brain healthy
- Support muscle strength
I just knew that something was wrong, and because I have other family members, I had to find out. If it was just me, I would think, ‘ok, maybe I just live like this.’ But for my children, my nieces, my nephews, and my grandchildren, we had to figure it out.- Amy, Living With HPP
How HPP affects different parts of the body
HPP can feel like pain, headaches, fatigue, or muscle weakness. HPP can affect the bones, joints, teeth, kidneys,
lungs,* brain, and muscles, so experiences may look different from person to person.
Recognizing the range of possible symptoms can help you better understand your own experience.
Recognizing the range of possible symptoms can help you better understand your own experience.
* Lung and breathing problems are most common in babies with HPP, especially before birth, soon after birth, or in early infancy.
The day-to-day impact of HPP
HPP can have a big impact on daily life. It can make routine activities more difficult, which may affect work, school,
relationships, and everyday tasks.
Learning about how HPP affects daily life can help guide conversations about support.
Learning about how HPP affects daily life can help guide conversations about support.
HPP can affect people at any age
HPP is a lifelong condition that is passed down through families. HPP can be progressive, so it's important to share
your experience with your doctor.
Learning how HPP shows up across different stages of life can help bring clarity to past experiences.
Learning how HPP shows up across different stages of life can help bring clarity to past experiences.
How HPP is diagnosed
Because HPP can resemble other conditions, many people remain undiagnosed. Low ALP levels over time can be important in
diagnosing HPP. Talk to your doctor about checking your ALP levels.
Understanding what doctors look for when diagnosing HPP can help you take the next step toward finding answers.
Understanding what doctors look for when diagnosing HPP can help you take the next step toward finding answers.
Finally, things are all falling into place. My symptoms are real, and now I can move forward.- Carol, Living With HPP
