OSTEOPOROSIS : CAUSES AND TREATMENT

 Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle — so brittle that a fall or even mild stresses such as bending over or coughing can cause a fracture. Osteoporosis-related fractures most commonly occur in the hip, wrist or spine.

 Bone is living tissue that is constantly being broken down and replaced. Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone doesn't keep up with the loss of old bone.

Osteoporosis affects men and women of all races. But white and Asian women, especially older women who are past menopause, are at highest risk. Medications, healthy diet and weight-bearing exercise can help prevent bone loss or strengthen already weak bones.

Causes

1. Osteoporosis weakens bone

Our bones are in a constant state of renewal — new bone is made and old bone is broken down. When you're young, your body makes new bones faster than it breaks down old bones and your bone mass increases. After the early 20s this process slows, and most people reach their peak bone mass by age 30. As people age, bone mass is lost faster than it's created.

How likely you are to develop osteoporosis depends partly on how much bone mass you attained in your youth. Peak bone mass is partly inherited and varies also by ethnic group. The higher your peak bone mass, the more bone you have "in the bank" and the less likely you are to develop osteoporosis as you age.

2. Hormone levels

Osteoporosis is more common in people who have too much or too little of certain hormones in their bodies. Examples include:

·        Sex hormones. Lowered sex hormone levels tend to weaken bone. The fall in estrogen levels in women at menopause is one of the strongest risk factors for developing osteoporosis. Treatments for prostate cancer that reduce testosterone levels in men and treatments for breast cancer that reduce estrogen levels in women are likely to accelerate bone loss.

·        Thyroid problems. Too much thyroid hormone can cause bone loss. This can occur if your thyroid is overactive or if you take too much thyroid hormone medication to treat an underactive thyroid.

·        Other glands. Osteoporosis has also been associated with overactive parathyroid and adrenal glands.

3. Dietary factors

Osteoporosis is more likely to occur in people who have:

·        Low calcium intake. A lifelong lack of calcium plays a role in the development of osteoporosis. Low calcium intake contributes to diminished bone density, early bone loss and an increased risk of fractures.

·        Eating disorders. Severely restricting food intake and being underweight weakens bone in both men and women.

·        Gastrointestinal surgery. Surgery to reduce the size of your stomach or to remove part of the intestine limits the amount of surface area available to absorb nutrients, including calcium. These surgeries include those to help you lose weight and for other gastrointestinal disorders

4. Steroids and other medications

Long-term use of oral or injected corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone and cortisone, interferes with the bone-rebuilding process. Osteoporosis has also been associated with medications used to combat or prevent:

•         Seizures
•         Gastric reflux
•         Cancer
•         Transplant rejection

5. Medical conditions

The risk of osteoporosis is higher in people who have certain medical problems, including:

·                    Celiac disease

·                    Inflammatory bowel disease

·                    Kidney or liver disease

·                    Cancer

·                    Multiple myeloma

·                    Rheumatoid arthritis

SYMPTOMS:

There typically are no symptoms in the early stages of bone loss. But once your bones have been weakened by osteoporosis, you might have signs and symptoms that include:

·        Back pain, caused by a fractured or collapsed vertebra

·        Loss of height over time

·        A stooped posture

·        A bone that breaks much more easily than expected

TREATMENT :

Calcium

Men and women between the ages of 18 and 50 need 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day. This daily amount increases to 1,200 milligrams when women turn 50 and men turn 70.

Good sources of calcium include:

·                    Low-fat dairy products

·                    Dark green leafy vegetables

·                    Canned salmon or sardines with bones

·                    Soy products, such as tofu

·                    Calcium-fortified cereals and orange juice

 

Vitamin D

Vitamin D improves the body's ability to absorb calcium and improves bone health in other ways. People can get some of their vitamin D from sunlight, but this might not be a good source if you live in a high latitude, if you're housebound, or if you regularly use sunscreen or avoid the sun because of the risk of skin cancer.

Exercise

Exercise can help you build strong bones and slow bone loss. Exercise will benefit your bones no matter when you start, but you'll gain the most benefits if you start exercising regularly when you're young and continue to exercise throughout your life.

Combine strength training exercises with weight-bearing and balance exercises. Strength training helps strengthen muscles and bones in your arms and upper spine. Weight-bearing exercises — such as walking, jogging, running, stair climbing, skipping rope, skiing and impact-producing sports — affect mainly the bones in your legs, hips and lower spine. Balance exercises such as tai chi can reduce your risk of falling especially as you get older.

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(Credit Author:Kirti Chauhan)