Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones become fragile (tend to break easily). There are small spaces inside the bone and due to osteoporosis, this space increases and the bones tend to lose strength and solidity. The bones become so weak that even a fall or a bend can cause a fracture, which happens mostly in the hip, wrist, or spine.

It affects both men and women. People who are at higher risk are white and Asian women who are past menopause. Weak bones can be strengthened by taking a healthy diet, medications, and weight-bearing exercises.

Symptoms of Osteoporosis

Mostly, there are no symptoms that occur in the initial stage that’s why it is also called a silent disease. In many cases, a person is not aware of the disease until he/she gets a fracture. Some symptoms that occur due to osteoporosis are –

  • Change in posture i.e. a bend or a stoop.
  • Height gets shorter by an inch or more.
  • Pain in the back due to fracture.
  • Bone breaks more easily.
  • The capacity of the lungs decreases as the disks get compressed leading to shortness of breath.

Cause of Osteoporosis

When osteoporosis occurs, the spaces inside the bone increase which leads to the weakening of the bone. Bones are a vital organ and they act as a support system to the body. They store calcium and other important minerals which are required by the body. The bones in the body are continually renewing – new bone is made and the old one is dilapidated.

At a young age, the development of new bones is faster than its break down and the bone mass increases. This process slows down after the early 20s and the majority of the population reaches their peak bone mass by the age of 30. When people get older, the bone breaks down starts. People tend to lose bone mass much faster than it’s produced. With osteoporosis, the loss of bone mass occurs at a much higher rate and after reaching menopause, this rate increases even more quickly.

Hyperthyroidism could be one of the causes of osteoporosis. Other causes could be medications like long-term oral or injected corticosteroids such as prednisone or cortisone.

Risk Factors

  • Hormonal changes
  • Age
  • Thyroid problem
  • Reduced sex hormones
  • Ethnicity
  • Physically immobile and inactive
  • Blood disease
  • Low calcium intake
  • Menopause
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Steroids and other medication
  • Low body weight
  • Eating disorder
  • Family history
  • Lifestyle
  • Physical inactivity

Complications

The most serious complication of osteoporosis the bone fracture in the spine or the hip. This could lead to continuous pain and bad posture as the bones begin to collapse. With the growing age, the bones tend to become weak, and the frequency of the fracture increases. Also, the time taken to recover from broken bones increases. If anyone feels that he/she is at risk of developing osteoporosis, they should consult the doctor and get the screening done immediately.

Prevention

To keep your bones healthy, you need to take proper diet and calcium intake. Certain factors which can reduce the risk of osteoporosis are:

  • Intake of Calcium and Vitamin D
  • Regular Exercise
  • Proper Diet
  • Healthy Lifestyle
  • Stop Smoking and Drinking
  • Prevent factors that lead to falling, for example, install grab bars

Diagnosis

To check for osteoporosis, the doctor either checks the family history or goes for a physical test. If they feel you are at the risk of developing osteoporosis or have developed osteoporosis, then he/she may ask you to take Bone Mineral Density (BMD) test, also known as Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA or DXA) scans. This is a painless test that makes use of X-Rays

to know the solidity of the bones of the hips, spine, or wrist area. Another method can be an ultrasound scan.

Treatment

  • Testosterone therapy
  • Hormone-related therapy
  • Bisphosphonates – The most commonly used antiresorptive drugs that reduce the risk of fracture and slow bone loss.
  • Denosumab (Prolia) – A drug taken by injection to reduce bone loss.
  • Raloxifene (Evista) – It provides the advantages of estrogen but there is an increase in the risk of blood clots.
  • Teriparatide (Forteo) – A drug taken by injection to revitalize bone growth.
  • Calcitonin Salmon (Fortical and Miacalcin) – A drug in the form of a nasal spray to reduce bone reabsorption. There is a risk of cancer associated with this drug.
  • Romosozumab (Evenity) – This treatment is for women who are past menopause and at high risk of getting a fracture. It was approved in April 2019 by FDA.

Takeaway

You should take a proper diet, do regular exercise, and lead a healthy lifestyle to maintain bone mass. If you think, you are at risk of osteoporosis, consult the doctor immediately.