Osteoporosis Explained

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to weaken and fracture easily. The normal bone density is lessened making the bones brittle. The term osteoporosis means "porous bones". Simple everyday movements in people with osteoporosis can cause fractures. The most common fractures received by people with osteoporosis are fractures of the spine, hip or wrists.

Signs and Symptoms of Osteoporosis

In the beginning stages of osteoporosis there are normally no symptoms. As the bones become weaker, pain may be experienced in all areas of the back. An individual may appear to shrinking or appear noticeably shorter. Posture may develop into a hunched or stooped look. In later stages of osteoporosis fractures begin to occur.

Causes of Osteoporosis

Bone strength depends on factors such as density and size. As bones affected by osteoporosis loose more and more minerals, their internal structure hollows out causing the bones to become weak and brittle.

All the reasons osteoporosis occurs have yet to be determined. It has been determined that osteoporosis develops somewhere in the process of how bones are made.

Bone remodeling or bone turnover is the process in which new bone replaces or remodels old bone. Old bone is broken down and new bone takes its place. This process occurs over a period of two to three months. The bones in young people tend to produce new bone at a higher rate than old bone deteriorates. Young people generally have a higher bone mass. After the age of thirty the bone remodeling process reverses. Old bone is broken down faster than new bone can replace it.

In women, during menopause when estrogen levels drop, bone density is lost rather quickly. The decrease of estrogen is the leading cause of bone loss for women.

A person's risk of developing osteoporosis is determined largely on how much bone density their body can hang on to at its height and how rapidly the bone density decreases with age. Increasing calcium and vitamin D intake between the ages of 25 35 can lower the chances of having osteoporosis later in life. Exercising on a regular basis can also factor into the chances of a person having osteoporosis.

Who is at Risk of Developing Osteoporosis?

Women are more likely of having osteoporosis than men.

The risk of osteoporosis increases with age.

If you are white you are at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis.

People with a family history of osteoporosis are at an increased risk.

Thin people have a greater risk of developing the disease.

If you use tobacco you are at a greater risk.

A person with an eating disorder is at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis.

Long term use of corticosteroid medication puts a person at a greater risk of having osteoporosis.

An over abundance of thyroid hormone can put you at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis.

Diagnosis of Osteoporosis

The beginning signs of osteoporosis are called osteopenia. Osteopenia is slight bone loss that runs the risk of developing into osteoporosis. It is very simple for doctors to tell if a person is at risk for developing osteoporosis.

The simplest test for diagnosing osteoporosis is dual energy X-ray absorptiometry or DEXA. The bone density of the spine, hips and wrists are measured by a DEXA test. Other tests a doctor may use to aid in diagnosing osteoporosis are an ultrasound and a computerized tomography scanning or CT scan.

Treatment of Osteoporosis

The widest used treatment for osteoporosis used to be hormone therapy. Due to the rise in concerns for problems arising from this type of treatment, hormone therapy is becoming a less popular treatment. The most common forms of hormone therapy still recommended are creams, patches and the vaginal ring.

Prescription drugs may aid in slowing the decrease of bone density loss. It is even possible that over time, the bone density may improve. Some prescriptions the doctor may prescribe include:

Bisphosphonates are similar to estrogen and aid in slowing the breakdown of bone. These medicines also help with retaining current bone mass as well as increasing bone mass over time.

Raloxifene or commonly referred to as Estiva imitates the positive effects of estrogen. This medicine is prescribed for women only.

Calcatonin is a hormone that the thyroid gland produces. This medicine has been known to slow bone loss, aid in preventing fractures of the spine and possibly provide relief for pain associated with fractures.

Teraparatide is an extremely powerful medicine that is being used in both men and women. The medicine promotes the production of new bone growth and is given in an injection form daily.

Tamoxifen is a medicine used for women who are at a high risk of developing osteoporosis. This medicine may help in preventing the bones from becoming fractured.

Who Should Be Tested For Osteoporosis?

The National Osteoporosis Foundation suggests certain women at an above average risk for osteoporosis be tested for the disease. Any women not taking estrogen and that falls under any of the following categories should seek a professional bone density test.

Any women over the age of 65

Post-menopausal and at least one risk factor

If a vertebral abnormality is present

Former use of medicines such as prednisone that have been linked to osteoporosis

If you have type one diabetes

If you have liver disease

If you have a thyroid disease

If you have kidney disease

A family history of osteoporosis

Menopause was experienced earlier than normal