Osteoporosis - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Methods

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones becomeCauses of Osteoporosis
fragile and more likely to break. Osteoporosis oftenThe common causes and risk factor's of
was thought to be a condition that frail elderlyOsteoporosis include the following:
women develop. Osteoporosis leads to literallyFamily history of osteoporosis.
abnormally porous bone that is more compressible likeSmoking.
a sponge, than dense like a brick. This disorder of theAnorexia nervosa.
skeleton weakens the bone leading to an increase inLack of exercise or long-term bed rest can cause
the risk of breaking bones (bone fracture). A brokenweak bones.
bone can really affect a woman's life. It can causeSmall, thin women are at greater risk.
disability, pain, or loss of independence. It can make itCertain medications eg steroids.
harder to do daily activities without help, such asDrinking alcohol.
walking. If you have osteoporosis, you have anLack of dietary calcium.
increased risk for fractured bones (broken bones),Inactive lifestyle.
particularly in the hip, spine, and wrist. In most cases,Low testosterone levels in men.
bones weaken when you have low levels of calcium,Longer postmenopausal interval.
phosphorus and other minerals in your bones. TheSymptoms of Osteoporosis
process of bone remodelling from resorption toSome sign and symptoms related to Osteoporosis
matrix synthesis to mineralization normally takesare as follows:
about 8 months--a slow but constant process. TheBack pain, which can be severe if you have a
disease is “silent” because there are nofractured or collapsed vertebra.
symptoms when you have osteoporosis, and theBroken bones.
condition may come to attention only after youLoss of height over time, with an accompanying
break a bone. Osteoporosis can also accompanystooped posture.
endocrine disorders or result from excessive use ofDull pain in the bones or muscles.
drugs such as corticosteroids.Neck pain.
Osteoporosis can cause a person to stoop forwardTreatment of Osteoporosis
and appear to have a hump on his or her spine. TheHere is list of the methods for treating Osteoporosis:
most serious and debilitating osteoporotic fracture isA balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D.
the hip fracture. The goal of treating osteoporosis isAlendronate (Fosamax®): This drug belongs to a
to prevent such fractures in the first place. Peopleclass of drugs called biophosphonates and is approved
with osteoporosis most often break bones in the hip,for both prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
spine, and wrist. Most hip fracture patients whoExercise.
previously lived independently will require help fromYou may need quite strong pain killers (analgesics),
their family or home care. In the United States,for quite some time, in the event of an osteoporotic
nearly 10 million people already have osteoporosis.fracture.
Another 18 million people have low bone mass thatA healthy lifestyle.
places them at an increased risk for developingBiphosphonates: This type of medication is used to
osteoporosis. Any bone can be affected, but ofarrest the progress of osteoporosis and even
special concern are fractures of the hip and spine.reverse it. They encourage the laying down of
One out of every two women and one in four mencalcium in the bones. One of these is also used when
over age 50 will break a bone in their lifetime due topeople have to be on long term steroids.
osteoporosis. A hip fracture almost always requiresCalcitonin is another medication used to decrease
hospitalization and major surgery. Normal bone isbone loss.
composed of protein, collagen, and calcium. BonesSodium fluoride can increase the measured bone
that are affected by osteoporosis can fracture withdensity in vertebra, but seems to have no overall
only a minor fall or injury that normally would noteffectiveness in reducing vertebral fracture.
cause a bone fracture.