Osteoporosis is a condition in which bone mass is reduced. In old age usually bone forming mechanism is reduced so bone mass
progressively reduced and the end result becomes osteoporotic born. Osteoporotic born is usually soft and very easily breakable. Usually patients present symptoms like:
- Back pain
- Wrist pain
- Hip region pain
Some of the times patients present fracture in spine or in wrist following mild trauma. If these things go undetected, due to multiple fractures in Spine patient can present with wrong posture and loss of height over the time.
We should always take prescription about osteoporosis , if you are through early menopause or took corticosteroids for several months at a time.
Risk factors
A number of factors can increase the likelihood that you’ll develop osteoporosis including your :
- Age
- Lifestyle
- Choice
- Medical conditions
- Treatments.
Some risk factors for osteoporosis are out of your control, including:
- Your sex = Women are much more likely to develop osteoporosis than are men.
- Age = The older you get, the greater your risk of osteoporosis.
- Race = You’re at greatest risk of osteoporosis if you’re white or of Asian descent.
- Family history = Having a parent or sibling with osteoporosis puts you at greater risk, especially if your mother or father have a fractured hip.
- Body frame size = Men and women who have small body frames tend to have a higher risk because they might have less bone mass to draw from as they age.
Dietary factors
Osteoporosis is more likely to occur in people who have:
- Low calcium intake = A lifelong lack of calcium plays a role in the development of osteoporosis. Low calcium intake contributes
to diminished bone density, early bone loss and an increased risk of fractures. - Eating disorders = Severely restricting food intake and being underweight weakens bone in both men and women.
- Gastrointestinal surgery = Surgery to reduce the size of your stomach or to remove part of the intestine limits the amount of surface area available to absorb nutrients, including calcium. These surgeries include those to help you lose weight and for other gastrointestinal disorders.
- Steroids and other medications
- Long-term use of oral or injected corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone and cortisone, interferes with the bone- rebuilding process.
Osteoporosis has also been associated with medications used to combat or prevent.
- Seizures
- Gastric reflux
- Cancer
- Transplant rejection
- Multiple myeloma
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Lifestyle Choices
Some bad habits can increase your risk of osteoporosis. Examples include:
- Sedentary lifestyle: People who spend a lot of time sitting have a higher risk of osteoporosis than do those who are more active. Any weight-bearing exercise and activities that promote balance and good posture are beneficial for your bones, but walking, running, jumping, dancing and weightlifting seem particularly helpful.
- Excessive alcohol consumption: Regular consumption of more than two alcoholic drinks a day increases the risk of osteoporosis.
- Tobacco use: The exact role tobacco plays in osteoporosis isn’t clear, but it has been shown that tobacco use contributes to weak bones.
Complications
- Compression fractures
- Pain and reduced daily routine activity
- Stupid back
Prevention
Good nutrition and regular exercise are essential for keeping your bones healthy throughout your life.
Good sources of Calcium include:
- Low-fat dairy products
- Dark green leafy vegetables
- Calcium-fortified cereals and orange juice
- If it is difficult to find calcium in diet then only we should consider taking calcium supplements.
Vitamin D
- Vitamin D improves the body’s ability to absorb calcium and improves bone health in other ways. People can get some of their vitamin D from sunlight.
- Dietary vitamin D include cod liver oil, trout and salmon.
- Many types of milk and cereal have been fortified with vitamin D.
Exercise
Exercise will benefit your bones, strengthen muscles and bones in your body.
Diagnosis
Your bone density can be measured by a machine that uses low levels of X-rays to determine the proportion of mineral in your bones. Painless test and In most cases, only certain bones are checked — usually in the hip and spine.
More Information:
- Bone density test
- CT scan
- Blood test
Treatment
Treatment of osteoporosis is done in following ways:
- We have to make patient fit by adding exercise in his routine life.
- With the help of vitamin D and calcium increase bone mass.
- There are some drugs which are helpful in the treatment .
Bisphosphonates
Denosumab
Hormone-related
therapy
Bone-building medications - If you have severe osteoporosis or if the more common treatments for osteoporosis don’t work well enough, your doctor might suggest trying:
* Teriparatide This powerful drug is similar to parathyroid hormone and stimulates new bone growth.