Osteoporosis is a condition distinguished by a decrease in bone density, resulting in weak strength and fragile bones. The condition turns to be in the form of an abnormally porous type bone which is sponge like and compressible. This disorder of the skeleton renders the bone weak and results in recurrent fractures in the bones. Deficit of calcium and vitamin D can worsen osteoporosis, but is not the main and only cause.
Osteoporosis can be there without any symptoms for years, because it doesn’t cause symptoms until there is an injury or bone fracture. Moreover, some osteoporotic fractures can be not discerned when they do not cause symptoms. So patients may not know whether they have osteoporosis until they suffer a fracture. The symptom associated with osteoporotic fractures usually is pain and disability, depending on the site of the fracture.
After age 35, both men and women will usually lose 0.3%-0.5% of their bone density every year as part of the ageing process. Estrogen, a hormone in women is significant in sustaining bone density. When estrogen levels drop after menopause, there is a considerable loss of bone density.
During the first 5-10 years after menopause, women can suffer up 2-4 percent loss of bone density per year. This can result in the loss of up to 25 to 30 percent of bone density during that time. Accelerated bone loss after menopause is a main cause of osteoporosis in women. Hormone replacement therapy post-menopause prevents this loss, but is of no crucial help once phase of six years post-menopause is over.
Risk factors for Osteoporosis:
- Low estrogen levels which occur in menopause or with early removal of ovaries surgically and low testosterone levels (hypogonadism).
- Lack of exercise, diet deficient in calcium and poor nutrition
- Cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol consumption
- Women, people of thin and small body frame, people with a family history of osteoporosis and those belonging to Caucasian or Asian race
- Amenorrhea (loss of menstrual period) in young women, linked with low estrogen and osteoporosis. Amenorrhea can happen in women who perform highly vigorous exercise training or have very low body fat.
- Hyperthyroidism, a condition wherein too much thyroid hormone is created by the thyroid gland or is ingested as thyroid hormone medication
- Chronic inflammation due to chronic diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis or liver diseases
- Certain medications can cause osteoporosis for instance long term consumption of anti-seizure medications such as phenytoin and Phenobarbital and long-term use of steroids.
- Immobility, like stroke or from any condition that interferes with walking
Osteoporosis Treatment
– A routine X-ray or sonography can show osteoporosis of the bone, because the bones seem thinner and lighter than normal bones.
– Ultrasound of the heel is a good screening tool but not suitable for diagnosis of osteoporosis from the therapy point of view.
– Do impact loading exercise like brisk walking
– One should increase the bone mass as much as possible in the formative years.
– – Have adequate calcium, vitamin D and proteins in a healthy well- balanced diet.
– With doctor’s prescription, one can have medicines like antiresorptives, eg, bisphosphonate or bone forming drugs like teriparatides, depending on which is suitable.
– Patients with low hormone levels will benefit from hormone replacement therapy taken after consultation with your doctor.
