Description

Short Description of Osteoporosis

When you have osteoporosis the bones are weakened making them more at risk for sudden to unexpected fractures. The disease often progresses minus any symptoms or pain and is not diagnosed until the bones suffer a fracture. 

Symptoms of Osteoporosis 

No symptoms in the early stages of bone loss. However, once the bones weaken there is:

• Back pain due to a fractured or collapsed vertebra 
• Loss of height over time 
• Stooped posture
• Bones that break easily than expected 

About Osteoporosis 

The term osteoporosis means “porous bone: and is a disease that results in weakened bones. If you have it, you are at higher risk for developing sudden and unexpected bone fractures. Osteoporosis means you have less bone mass and strength. It usually develops initially without any pain symptoms and is usually not diagnosed until later when the weakened bones results to painful fractures. Most of the fractures occur at the hip, spine and wrist.  Approximately 200 million people suffer from osteoporosis all over the world.  In the United States, it is estimated that 54 million have the disease. While osteoporosis happens to both sexes, women are four times more likely to develop it than men.  There are over 2 million men in the US that have osteoporosis and some 12 million more who are at risk of developing it.  After the age of 50, one in two women and one in four men will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetimes. Another 30% will have low bone density which puts them at higher risk of developing it.  The disease is known as osteopenia.  Osteoporosis is the one responsible for more than 2 million fractures each year and the incidence continues to go up. 

Etiology of Osteoporosis 

The exact cause of the disease is unknown but researchers know how it develops. The bones are comprised of living, growing tissue. Within the healthy bone it looks something like a sponge and is known as trabecular bone. There is an outer shell of dense bone that envelopes around the spongy bone and is called the cortical bone. When osteoporosis happens, the holes in the sponge grow bigger and more in number. This weakens the bone from the inside.  Bones are very important as it supports the body and the vital organs. It also store calcium as well as other minerals. If the body requires calcium, it breaks down and rebuilds the bone.  Known as bone remodeling, the process supplies the body with the much needed calcium while at the same time keeps the bones strong. 

Once you reach the age of 30, you normally build more bone than what is lost. By age 35, bone breakdown quicker than bone buildup, resulting in gradual loss of bone mass.  After undergoing menopause, the rate of bone breakdown occurs even more quickly. 

Other risk factors that can increase the risk of developing osteoporosis are:

• Taking high-dose steroid tablets for greater than 3 months 
• Other medical conditions like inflammatory diseases, hormone-related issues and malabsorption problems 
• Family history of osteoporosis more particularly hip fracture in a parent
• Long term use of certain medications that may affect bone growth or hormone levels like anti-estrogen tablets that a lot of women take after breast cancer
• Eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia 
• Low body mass index
• Lack of exercise 
• Drinking excessive alcohol
• Excessive smoking 

The risk of getting the disease is also higher in people with known medical conditions like: celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney or liver disease, cancer, multiple myeloma and rheumatoid arthritis. 

Diagnosis of Osteoporosis 

If the physician suspects osteoporosis then some diagnostic tests may be ordered to ascertain the risk of breaking a bone using an online program known as FRAX or Q-fracture.

DEXA – Bone density scan is used to measure the bone strength. It is a short, painless procedure that takes around 10 to 20 minutes depending on the body part being scanned.  The bone density may be compared to that of a healthy adult.  The difference is calculated as a standard deviation and is known as a T score.  Standard deviation is a measure of variability based on an average or expected value. A T score of: above -1 SD is normal, between -1 and -2.5 shows bone loss and is diagnosed to have osteopenia and below -2.5 shows bone loss and is diagnosed to have osteoporosis. 

Complications of Osteoporosis 

The most serious complications are fractures in the spine or hip. Hip fractures often due to a fall may result in disability and even an increased risk of death within the first year of the injury.   In some cases, spinal fractures may occur even if there is no history of a fall.  The bones that make up the spine weaken to the point of collapse resulting to backpain, loss of height and a hunched forward posture. 

Prevention

Good nutrition and regular exercise are vital in helping keep the bones healthy all throughout your lifetime. 

• Calcium – Men and women between the ages of 18 and 50 need 1000 mg of Ca each day. The daily amount increases to 1,200 mg when women turn 50 and men turn 70.  
• Vitamin D – Helps improves the body’s ability to absorb calcium and improves bone health in other ways.