Osteoporosis

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a condition that affects the bones, causing them to become thin and weak. It is very common and is more frequently found in older people. As many as 1 in 3 women are affected, compared to only 1 in 12 men, due to women have a lower bone mass and the effects of the menopause.

What Causes Osteoporosis?

The bones are thickest and strongest in early adult life. From around the age of 35, more bone cells are lost than are replaced. Healthy bones are repaired and reinforced by a variety of proteins and minerals. The growth hormones and sex hormones control the amount of mineral substance deposited in the bones. Changes in hormone levels can therefore affect the strength of the bones. For example, the female hormone oestrogen offers some protection against osteoporosis. After the menopause, oestrogen levels fall, often causing the bones to thin quickly.

Symptoms

Osteoporosis is a condition that develops slowly over several years. Symptoms are not evident in the early stages and can take months or years to appear. Signs of osteoporosis include joint pain, difficulty standing or sitting up straight, or fracturing a bone without much force or impact.

When the bones are significantly thinned, breakages of the wrist, hip, or spinal bones (vertebra) are most common. A cough or a sneeze may cause the fracture of a rib, or the partial collapse of one of the bones of the spine.

A fractured bone in an older person can be serious, because the bone is no longer able to repair itself effectively. This can lead to arthritis, and even disability in severe cases. The typical stooping (bent forward) position that is common in older people is a visible sign of osteoporosis. It happens when the bones in the spine are fractured (cracked), making it difficult to support the weight of the body.

Diagnosis

As signs of osteoporosis can go unnoticed at first and it is often undiagnosed until the weakening of the bones has led to a broken bone. A bone density scan, called a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, is used to measure the density of bones and compare this to normal healthy bones. This test measures the strength of bones and the risk or fracture.

Treatment

there are a number of different treatments available for osteoporosis including calcium and vitamin D supplements, medication and hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Prevention

Lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise, can influence how healthy your bones are and the rate at which they repair themselves. Following a healthy lifestyle throughout life is the best way to delay the onset of osteoporosis in later life, and slow the rate at which your bones become brittle. You can do this by taking regular exercise, taking plenty of calcium, not smoking and drinking in moderation.

Links

You can find more detailed information at the links below.