What
is Osteoporosis? Osteoporosis
is a condition characterized by weak and brittle bones. Osteoporosis is a term
to discribe porous bones. Sometimes the bones can become so brittle that activities
like bending over, lifting a vacuum or coughing can cause a fracture.
What
causes Osteoporosis? In
most cases, the brittle and weak bones are caused by low levels of calcium,
phosphorous and other minerals in your bones.
What
are the Symptoms of Osteoporosis?
In
the early stages of osteoporosis, symptoms may not be noticible. However, as bones
continue to weaken, some of the symptoms are:
- Back pain
- Loss of height over time,
with an accompanying stooped posture
- Fracture of the vertebrae, wrists, hips
or other bones
Bone
Strength
The
strength of your bones depends on their mass and density. Bone density partially
depends on the amount of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals bones contain.
When your bones contain less mineral, their strength is decreased.
Activities like hiking, swimming, pilates, and running help improve bone density and lowers your risk of developing osteoporosis.
Risks
for developing Osteoporosis
Your
risk of developing osteoporosis depends on how much bone mass you attained between
ages 25 and 35 (peak bone mass) and how rapidly you lose it later. The higher
your peak bone mass, the more bone you have "in the bank" and the less
likely you’ll be to develop osteoporosis as you lose bone during normal aging.
Some medications may also cause osteoporosis.
Some
other risks of osteoporosis are:
How
is Osteporosis Detected?
Osteoporosis
can be detected through bone density tests. Bone density tests can measure bone
density in various sites of the body. If you suspect that you might have osteoporosis,
ask your doctor to perform a bone density test.
What
are the Complications of Osteoporosis?
Some
of the most common complications are: spinal fractures, wrist fractures, hip fractures,
and compression of your vertebrae (causing loss of height or stooped posture)
are the most frequent and serious complication of osteoporosis.
Treatment
Options for Osteoporosis
Your
doctor can give you a complete list of treatment options that are tailored to
your needs.
Osteoporosis Statistics
- It
is estimated that one in two women over 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture.
- Osteoporosis
is a threat to 28 million Americans and is currently one of the most under-diagnosed
and under-treated disorders in medicine.
- According
to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, once a woman reaches 60 years of age,
she has a one in four chance of breaking a bone due to osteoporosis.
- In
the United States, it is estimated that osteoporosis accounts for more than 1.5
million fractures each year.
|
