This is a bone disease that can affect anyone of any race. However, women tend to be more affected by it than men. Additionally , white and Asian women tend to be more affected than those of other races.
Treatment of osteoporosis usually involves use of special medications as well as lifestyle changes. The latter include dietary modifications and taking up weight bearing exercise. The goal of treatment is to prevent bone loss or to strengthen bones that have become too weak.
Most of us do not realize that our bone tissues are in fact in a constant state of renewal. Old bone tissue is constantly being lost and new tissue is always being created.
At younger ages, new tissue is created at a faster rate than the rate of loss of old tissue. As a result, the overall bone density increases.
However, as we age, the rate of bone tissue creation decreases and the rate of loss increases. By the early 30s, the rate of bone tissue loss starts to exceed the rate at which new tissue is created. This means that our overall bone density starts to decrease and our bones become more brittle.
The chances of developing osteoporosis depends on how much bone density we have accumulated at our peak. This itself tends to vary with inherited factors as well as ethnicity. The more bone density we have accumulated at our peak, the lower the likelihood of developing osteoporosis and vice versa.
The chances of developing osteoporosis have been observed to be correlated with a large range of factors. Some of these may be outside the control of the individual. However, others are controllable and should form part of an osteoporosis prevention strategy.
The following have been found to influence the risk of developing osteoporosis in advanced age:
Individuals with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa are therefore at higher risk of developing osteoporosis.
Individuals who have undergone surgery to reduce stomach size may partially lose the ability to absorb calcium and other important nutrients. This in turn can increase the risk of developing osteoporosis;
Excessive consumption of alcohol or tobacco can also increase the risk of developing osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis can lead to many other health problems as one grows older. Bone fractures (and hip fractures in particular) can lead to long term disability among the aged.
Spinal compression fractures are another potential health risk faced by those with osteoporosis. The spinal vertebrae can become so weak that they start to crumble under their own weight. The result is usually back pain, a “hunched” and forward leaning posture and loss of height.
About 25% of caucasian women over age 60 will develop this posture due to osteoporosis of the spine. It causes rounding of the shoulders due to vertebral fracture/collapse.
If you think you may be at higher risk of developing osteoporosis, talk to your doctor about lifestyle changes. You should also discuss with her any medications that may help you.
Here are some of the steps to prevent the development of osteoporosis or at least to reduce its risk:
If you are known to have osteoporosis and have suffered a fragility fracture, treatment with medications should be started early.
In other cases, osteoporosis may be present but a fragility fracture has not occurred. Doctors will then use certain criteria to determine when to start medications.
These criteria include age, bone density measurements on a DXA scan and family history of a hip fracture. Other factors are alcohol consumption, whether you smoke, your BMI and presence of medical conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
The medications used to prevent and treat osteoporosis include the following:
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Designed to relieve pain associated with sacroiliac and lumbar joint dysfunction and also helps prevent sprains of supporting ligaments. Features two pliable stays and four aluminum stays which can be removed.
