Osteoporosis

The doctor examined her and told her that she was suffering from osteoporosis.

Medical practitioners view osteoporosis as one of the major ailment that’s threatening many Americans. According to the estimates given by National Osteoporosis Foundation, nearly 10 million Americans are already affected by the disease, and another 34 million are already at risk due to low bone mass.

Osteoporosis is a medical term used to describe a condition where the bones present in a human body have become brittle and fragile and hence are susceptible to breakage. The disease increases the incidence of fractures in humans.

We all are aware that the bones in our body get replaced on a continuous basis. When we are young, the formation of new bones outpaces the breaking of old bones. But as we age, our body is not able to form new bones quickly but the rate of breakage remains the same. Thus, we keep on losing bone mass at a faster rate.

Symptoms of osteoporosis:

Unlike other forms of diseases, osteoporosis does not display overt symptoms. Hence, it is also known as a ‘silent killer’ in medical circles. The bone density keeps on decreasing for years. Often osteoporosis is only detected when a person suffers a fracture. By that time, the bone has already lost a lot of calcium and other minerals.

However, there are certain symptoms that can allude to the presence of osteoporosis. At the same time, one must remember that in most cases, the symptoms underline the fact that the ailment is at quite an advanced stage.

Some of the symptoms of osteoporosis include:

• Back Pain: Constant or chronic back pain may signal that you are already suffering from osteoporosis. However, a severe back pain indicates that the vertebrae has collapsed or is fractured.
• Loss of height and Stooped posture: Osteoporosis can lead to repeated spine fractures. This causes a person to lose his height and he develops a hunched back or a stooped posture.
• Fractures: Medical practitioners state that fracture of the hips, wrists or other bones signals the presence of osteoporosis.

Who is at risk from osteoporosis?

There are certain factors that increase the susceptibility of falling a victim to osteoporosis. They include:

• Gender: Females are more prone to osteoporosis than men. According to the data published by National Osteoporosis Foundation, out of the ten million osteoporosis patients in America, 8 million are women. In females, the onset of menopause leads to a dramatic decrease of estrogen [a kind of hormone] levels. This accelerates the process of bone loss. Thus, females are more susceptible to osteoporosis than men.
• Race: Race is also an important factor that determines how much risk you face from osteoporosis. Doctors place Caucasians and Asians in the high-risk category as far as osteoporosis is concerned. Though people belonging to other races such as Hispanics and Black also face a considerable threat from the disease, it is relatively low when compared with the risk face by Caucasians or Asians.
• Small Body Frame: Research has revealed that those with small body frame are more prone to osteoporosis rather than those who boast a large body frame. Similarly, thin people face an increased threat from osteoporosis than those with a lean body.
• Menstrual history: In case of women, menstrual history plays a crucial role when it comes to osteoporosis. For instance, an early start to menstruation and a late menopause decreases the risk of osteoporosis. Medical practitioners also state that women who experience an early menopause or who undergo hysterectomy [surgical removal of the uterus] before turning 45 are also more likely to fall victim to osteoporosis. Women who experience abnormal periods also face an increased risk.
• Lifestyle: Certain lifestyle factors are also tend to increase the risk of osteoporosis in human beings. For instance, excessive smoking and alcohol binging makes one more vulnerable to this ailment. Similarly, a diet low in calcium and Vitamin D also increases the threat of osteoporosis.

Treatment for osteoporosis:

Most of the treatments available for osteoporosis concentrate on slowing down the bone loss process.

Some of the popular forms of treatment include:

• Bisphosphonates: This drug works like estrogen and slows down the process of bone breakdown. It also helps in the maintenance of bone mass as well as increasing the bone density.
• Raloxifene: This drug is classified as a selective estrogen receptor modulator. It is only administered to women. It mimics the properties of estrogen and offers to protect the bone density. At the same time, it does not cause harmful effects associated with estrogen such as breast cancer.
• Changes in lifestyle: Doctors recommend changes in lifestyle such as curbing the intake of alcohol or protein rich diet. Similarly, patients are also encouraged to quit smoking.

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