Information About Paget’s Disease of Bones

Paget's disease is a metabolic bone disease, occurringPaget's disease is uncommon in people younger than
in the middle aged and elderly peoples. The other40 years of age. It is more common as people age.
name of Paget's disease is osteitis deformans. It is aThere are no known ways to prevent Paget's
chronic condition in which both the breakdown anddisease from occurring. Eating a healthy diet with
formation of bone tissue are increased, which resultsufficient calcium and vitamin D and getting exercise
in deformity. It is most frequently occur in the pelvicare important components in maintaining skeletal
and leg bones, skull, and lower spine. It may lead tohealth and joint mobility.
bone pain, deformities, and fractures. Paget's diseasePaget's disease causes bones to grow too large and
may be caused by a "slow virus" infection, presentweak. You can have Paget's disease in any bones in
for many years before symptoms appear. There isyour body, but most people have it in their spine,
also a hereditary factor since the disease may appearpelvis, skull, or leg bones. The disease may affect
in more than one family member.only one bone or several bones, but it does not
Paget's disease may affect only one or two areas ofaffect the entire skeleton. Bones with Paget's disease
your body, or may be widespread. Paget's diseasemay break more easily, and the disease can lead to
tends to appear in families. It can be present in asother health problems.
many as 25 percent to 40 percent of the relativesPaget's disease, also called osteitis deformans, is a
of someone with the disease. It is also morechronic bone disorder in which there is abnormal bone
common in people of Anglo-Saxon descent. Manyremodeling (the process of bone breakdown and
patients do not know they have Paget's diseaserebuilding). With Paget's disease, bone is broken down
because they have a mild case with no symptoms.more quickly, and is then replaced with softer, more
Sometimes, symptoms may be confused with thoseporous bone. As a result, affected bones become
of arthritis or other disorders.thicker, weaker, and deformed. It usually affects the
Paget's disease of bone causes your bones to growbones of the skull, pelvis, collarbone, spine, and legs.
larger and weaker than normal. They also mightHealthy bone tissue has an ordered structure that
break easily. The disease can lead to other healthgives the bone its strength. Bones affected by
problems, too, such as arthritis and hearing loss. YouPaget's disease, however, have a structure that is
can have Paget's disease in any bone, but it is mostdisorganized. This disorganized structure weakens the
common in the spine, pelvis, skull and legs. Thediseased bone and makes people suffering from this
disease might affect one or several bones, but notdisease more likely to have fractures. These
your entire skeleton. More men than women havefractures are slow to heal.
the disease. It is most common in older people.