Osteoporosis literally means thinning of bone. Medically, Osteoporosis is a disease of bone in which the bone mineral density (BMD) is reduced which means one has a low bone mass and deteriorating bone tissue. In simple words the bones become thin, brittle and may be easily broken. Bone mass (bone density) is the amount of bone present in the skeletal structure. The higher the density the stronger are the bones. If Osteoporosis is not prevented in the early stages or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until the bone tends to break. These broken bones, also known as fractures, occur typically in the hip, spine, and wrist. The fracture caused by osteoporosis can be either in the form of cracking (as in a hip fracture), or collapsing (as in a compression fracture of the vertebrae of the spine). Though the spine, hips, and wrists are common areas of osteoporosis-related bone fractures almost any skeletal bone area is susceptible to osteoporosis-related fracture. Though the disease can strike at any age statistics reveal:
-One in four women over the age of 50 has osteoporosis. -One in eight men over 50 also has the disease.
-One in four women over the age of 50 has osteoporosis. -One in eight men over 50 also has the disease.
Common signs and symptoms for Osteoporosis: Many people do not realize they have osteoporosis until diagnosis reveals it has subsisted for a long period of time. The following are some of the common signs and symptoms indicating osteoporosis maybe affecting you: Acute onset of back pain (mid- lower back) without any specific reason, Fracture in the thigh bone, hipbone or lower arm bone above the wrist, Sharp pain in the back, ribs, hip or wrist,-A hunched forward or bent stature, Loss of height due to collapsing vertebrae, Stooped posture.
Most Common Causes for Osteoporosis: Among women the deficiency of Estrogen (a group of hormones) post menopause has been correlated to a rapid reduction in BMD. The increased risk of falling associated with aging, leads to fractures of the wrist, spine and hip. -Other hormone deficiency states can lead to osteoporosis, such as testosterone deficiency. Glucocorticoid or thyroxine excess states also lead to osteoporosis. Not eating foods rich in Calcium, Vitamin D and Phosphorous can also cause bone loss. Calcium and/or vitamin D deficiency from malnutrition also increases the risk of osteoporosis. -Some medicines can inhibit the bodys ability to absorb calcium. This may cause the bones to weaken. These medications include cortisone/corticosteroids, anticoagulants, thyroid supplements, and some anti-convulsive drugs. Other illnesses or diseases, such over-active thyroid, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis may also cause bone loss. A disease such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia can cause changes in a person’s estrogen level and lead to osteoporosis. Other significant factors leading to the onset of osteoporosis include: smoking cigarettes, high intake of alcohol, tea or coffee, low levels of physical activity (weight bearing exercise), and family history.
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