Osteoporosis is a condition when your bones become fragile. That leads to easy fractures. Unprevented osteoporosis goes painlessly until a bone breaks. Typical fractures occur in your spine, hip, or wrist, depending where the strong force is applied.
Most dangerous are hip and spine fractures. A hip fracture practically always brings patient to a hospital and requires surgery. The healing is prolonged. Disability is common. Death may happen because long staying in bed leads to pulmonary embolism. Another danger is severe infection. Vertebral fractures in severe case may lead to paralysis.
Majority of older people are at risk. Women are several folds more prone than men, but men may suffer also.
Osteoporosis happens slowly. It takes years before doctor or patient becomes aware of the bone condition, usually in unexpected accident. Osteoporosis silently steals your bone. Collapse of spinal vertebrae often produces stooped posture and a hump. Daily life activities decrease because of chronic pain and fear to get a broken bone during routine actions. For example, you misstep or bend or somebody hugs you.
There are several millions fractures a year due to osteoporosis. It cost almost 20 billions to treat just in United States alone. Aging population will bring these numbers up.
Porous bones leads to easy fragility. Some people, due to genetics, diet, age and lifestyle, are more prone to the problem. Technology and research improved diagnosis and treatment. There is no definite treatment, but you may delay the disease onset. First line of defense is exercise and diet.
Bone has fibers of protein collagen fortified with calcium containing minerals. Bone is a dynamic structure. It continuously renews itself and always changes due to muscle tension and gravity.
Majority of calcium in the body stays in the teeth and skeleton. The rest participates in blood clotting, nerve conduction, contraction of skeletal muscles, gut and heart. The regulation of calcium is tight. Bones release calcium when organism is in need. The balance of bone building and bone breakdown is regulated by hormones. The bone system is a depot for minerals. In people older 30 withdrawals are greater than deposits. Men build bigger bone mass. This is why women get osteoporosis more often. Estrogen, a female hormone, drops at menopause. Then bones loose calcium faster. Around 65 you may loose half of your skeleton.
The bone mineral density is measured by DXA scan. The method is sort of X-ray, though special one. Repeated annually the scan determines the rate of bone loss. Another way to evaluate bones is ultrasound that is safer and cheaper. A special machine is required.
It is possible to evaluate bone breakdown by a component in urinalysis. However it does not diagnose osteoporosis.
National Osteoporosis Foundation
http://www.nof.orgWhat is Osteoporosis?
http://www.rdoctor.comOsteoporosis and bone physiology
http://courses.washington.edu/bonephys/Osteoporosis Online www.osteoporosis.ca
NIH ORBD-NRC - Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases
http://www.osteo.orgKeywords: osteoporosis, bone, fracture, vitamin D, old women, diagnosis, treatment
