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Osteoporosis: Define Osteoporosis, Cause, Symptom, Risk Factor, Diagnosis, Treatment

What is it?

Osteoporosis is defined as a disease that weakens and thins the bones to the point were they become fragile and break very easily. The bone is a living breathing tissue, in our lives the body breaks down the old bone and replaces it with new bone. However, as people age, more bone is broken down that is replaced. Women and men with osteoporosis often break bones in the hip, spine, and wrist. This is not a disease that you can catch from someone else. Osteoporosis is often referred to as the silent illness, because it usually occurs without any symptoms.

What causes it?

They are many factors that can increase your risk of developing osteoporosis. They are some factors that can be changed, and others that can not be. Recognizing these factors can help you take the necessary steps to prevent this condition.

• Staring in your 30’s, but increases after the age 50.
• If you are a non-Hispanic white and have an Asian background.
• That you do not take enough calcium and Vitamin D.
• A lifestyle that does not include moving around, and or exercising the bones.
• A family history of osteoporosis or osteoporosis related fractures in grandparents, parents, or siblings.
• If you have a small bone structure.
• Your genetic makeup can also contribute to your risk of getting osteoporosis.

Who gets Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is very common in older individuals, and in non-Hispanic white women. This disease can occur at any age, and in men as well as in women. Over eight million women in the United States alone suffer from osteoporosis.

How is Osteoporosis diagnosed?

There is a simple test that can measure the bone mineral density (BMD) at different parts of your body. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is the best current test available to measure your bone mineral density. The test is quick and is painless. The DEXA test is scored in comparison to the BMD of young, healthy individuals, resulting in a T-score. If you have a T-score of 2.5 or lower, you are considered to have osteoporosis and at a higher risk of developing bone fractures in your body.

How is Osteoporosis treated?

They are some things that you can do to help maintain a healthy bone structure.

1. Make sure that you take the adequate amount of calcium in your diet.
2. Make sure that you get enough Vitamin D, either through your diet or supplements.
3. Get plenty of and regular exercise.

They are several medications on the market that an individual can take to help treat osteoporosis. As with all medications, there is a risk of side effects, so you need to work closely with your doctor to find the medication that is right for you and the level of progression of your disease.

1. Fosamax and Actonel are medications that help to slow down the bone loss and decrease the risk of fractures.
2. Calcitonin is a hormone medication made from the thyroid gland this is given as an injection. It can help prevent spine fractures.

If you by chance develop osteoporosis, it is very important that you prevent any further bone loss. You have to take extra doses of calcium and Vitamin D, and try to strengthen the existing bone. You also need to get regular exercise, and avoid situations that you might risk getting a bone fractures. Don’t carry heavy things around, or try maneuvering stairs with things in your hands. You should also start early to protect your bones, so that they can last you a lifetime.�