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By Medicover Hospitals / 02 April 2021
Osteoporosis, which means ‘porous bone’, is a disease in which the bone mass and bone strength are reduced. As we get older, we are unable to replace the bone tissue as quickly as we lose it. It occurs when new bone formation does not match the bone loss. It is a common disease that makes the bones thinner and thus more likely to break.
Osteoporosis is a condition that affects the bones. Like a honeycomb, the inside of a healthy bone includes tiny gaps. It causes the bone to lose strength and density by increasing the size of these gaps. Also, the outside of the bone becomes weak and thin. It may strike anybody at any age, although it is more frequent among the elderly, particularly women. More than 53 million people in the United States have osteoporosis or are at high risk of developing it. People with it are at high risk for bone fractures or fractures while doing routine activities, such as standing or walking. The most commonly affected bones are the ribs, hips, and wrist and spine bones.
It can occur without any symptoms for decades, as you do not show any symptoms until a bone breaks (fractures). It does not have any symptoms or warning indications in the early stages. Most patients with it are unaware of their disease until they have a fracture. If symptoms appear, some of the former may include:
If you don't have symptoms but have a family history of osteoporosis, talking with your doctor can help you assess your risk.
Some risk factors which make you more susceptible to osteoporosis:
If you are suffering any backache, neck pain, or muscle pain you must consult a doctor to see if a bone density test is needed. These scans use very small amounts of radiation to see how strong your bones are.
Many treatments stop bone loss and reduce the chances of fractures. Small changes to your diet and lifestyle along with medications help slow bone loss or build new bone. Treatment includes medications to help build bone mass. Medications often have hormonal influences, stimulating or acting like estrogen in the body to stimulate bone growth. Some examples of medications used to treat it include:
Romosozumab (Evenity) is a newer drug that was approved by the FDA in April 2019 to treat women who have gone through menopause and are at high risk for fractures. It has a "black box" warning because Evenity can increase the risk of heart attacks or strokes, so it is not recommended for people with a history of both. Kyphoplasty is a surgical treatment for fractures. Kyphoplasty involves the use of small incisions to insert a small balloon into the collapsed vertebrae to restore the height and function of the spine.
Some healthy habits can help prevent it:
Article Context:
- What is Osteoporosis?
- Symptoms
- Causes
- Treatments
- Preventions
- Facts of Osteoporosis
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is Osteoporosis?
Symptoms
- Receding gums
- Weakened grip force
- Weak and brittle nails
Causes
- Gender: Women get osteoporosis more often than men.
- Age: The older you are, the greater your risk of osteoporosis.
- Body size: Small, thin women are at greater risk.
- Family history: If it runs in the family you are more likely to get it.
- Sex hormones: Low estrogen levels due to missing menstrual periods or menopause can cause osteoporosis in women. Low testosterone levels can bring on osteoporosis in men.
- Anorexia nervosa: This eating disorder can lead to it.
- Calcium and vitamin D intake: A diet low in calcium and vitamin D makes you more prone to bone loss.
- Medication use: Some medicines increase the risk.
- Activity level: Lack of exercise or long-term bed rest can cause weak bones.
- Smoking: Cigarettes are bad for bones, and the heart, and lungs, too.
- Drinking alcohol: Too much alcohol can cause bone loss and broken bones.
How Do I Know if I Have Osteoporosis?
Treatments
- Bisphosphonates
- Calcitonin
- Estrogen
- Parathyroid hormone (PTH), such as teriparatide
- Parathyroid hormone-related protein, such as abaloparatide
- Raloxifene (Evista)
Tips to Prevent Osteoporosis
- Healthy Lifestyle: Smoking is bad for bones as well as for the heart and lungs. Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol as it makes you more prone to bone loss.
- Exercise: It makes your bones and muscles stronger. Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking jogging, playing tennis, and dancing, are best for preventing osteoporosis when done regularly.
- Add calcium to your diet: Experts recommend 1,000 milligrams each day for women before menopause and 1,200 milligrams a day for those who’ve been through it. Milk and dairy products, fish, dark green, leafy vegetables, such as kale and broccoli are good sources of calcium.
- Supplement your diet: It’s best to get calcium through the food you eat. But if you don’t get enough, ask your doctor if you need any calcium supplements.
- Vitamin D: Your body needs it to absorb calcium. You can get some of what you need by spending time in the sun, which prompts your body to make vitamin D.
Facts of Osteoporosis
- It is a condition of fragile bone with an increased susceptibility to fracture.
- The diagnosis can be suggested by X-rays and confirmed by tests to measure bone density.
- It is common in India, and the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among Indians is one of the major reasons for this condition.
- It is important to encourage children to drink milk and play in the sun to ensure adequate calcium intake and vitamin D synthesis.
- Peak bone density is reached at approximately 25 years of age. Therefore, it is important to build strong bones by this age so that the bones will remain strong later in life.
Frequently Asked Questions:
The major cause of osteoporosis is bone loss caused by a decrease in estrogen levels in the body. Estrogen is a hormone that aids in the formation and maintenance of bones. Menopause is the most prevalent cause of estrogen decrease in women.
There is no cure for it, but proper treatment can help protect and strengthen your bones. These treatments can help slow the breakdown of bone in your body, and some treatments can stimulate the growth of new bone.
Osteoporosis-related fractures most often occur in the hip, wrist, or spine. Bone is a Fliving tissue that breaks down and replaces itself constantly. It develops when the production of new bone does not keep up with the loss of existing bone.
Osteoporosis if left untreated increases the likelihood of fractures. Simple actions like sneezing or coughing, making a sudden turn, or hitting a hard surface can cause a fracture. This can make you feel like you are walking on eggshells and cause you to refrain from participating in activities that you enjoy.
Bone loss that results in an increased risk of osteoporosis is a major health problem throughout the world. Chocolate is high in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory flavonoids, and dietary minerals, all of which can help with bone health.
People with transitory osteoporosis of the hip will get discomfort that worsens when they walk or engage in other weight-bearing activities. In many cases, the pain increases over time and can become disabling.
It can lead to back pain due to the weakening and compression of the bones of the vertebrae, leading to a variety of possible symptoms and pain.
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