What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is commonly associated with aging and postmenopausal women, but bone-health concerns are increasingly being noticed among younger adults in clinical practice.
- Osteoporosis is a disease in which the bones become weak and are likely to fracture (break).
- Osteoporosis means “porous bone.” Viewed under a microscope, a healthy bone looks like a honeycomb. When osteoporosis occurs, the holes and spaces in the honeycomb are much larger than in healthy bone.
- Osteoporotic bones have lost density or mass and contain abnormal tissue structure. As bones become less dense, they weaken and are more likely to break (bone fractures).
- Fractures can occur in any bone but happen most often in bones of the hip, vertebrae in the spine, and wrist.
- Bones are made of living tissue. To keep them strong, the body breaks down old bone and replaces it with new bone.
- Osteoporosis develops when more bone is broken down than replaced.
- You lose bone mass, and changes happen in the structure of the bone tissue. This can happen as you get older.
- Some of the common risk factors for developing osteoporosis include:
- Are female
- Over the age of 50
- Are of white or Asian descent
- Have a family history of osteoporosis
- Have low body weight
- Have low levels of sex hormones (low estrogen in women, low testosterone in men)
- Have too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism)
- Are chronically on certain medications such as steroids
- Symptoms:
- It is called a “silent” disease because it doesn’t usually cause symptoms.
- Although most people are not aware that they may have osteoporosis until they experience a fracture, there are some signs and symptoms that you may experience in later stages of the condition. They include:
- Back pain (in the presence of vertebral compression fracture)
- Loss of height over time (this will be gradual)
- A stooped posture
- Low-impact bone fracture
- Treatment: Treatment for osteoporosis may involve:
- Making lifestyle changes, such as changing the diet and exercise routine
- Taking calcium and vitamin D supplements
- Using medicines to strengthen bones.
