Osteoporosis at a glance: Osteoporosis is a disease of the bone in which the bones becomes porous and fragile. The most common risk factors for osteoporosis include female gender, low calcium and vitamin D. The primary mechanism of medications for osteoporosis is to slow down the cells that break bones and speed up the cells that make bones.
What is Osteoporosis?
In simple terms, ‘osteo’ refers to bones and ‘porosis’ refers to ‘pores or holes’. In other words, osteoporosis can be called bones with holes or bones with pores. Technically, osteoporosis is a disease of the bone in which the bone loses minerals, especially calcium, at a faster rate than the body can replace them. This leads to reduced bone thickness. As a result the bones become fragile and easily prone to fractures.
Osteoporosis means bones with pores or bones with holes.
What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?
Unfortunately, there are no obvious symptoms of osteoporosis. People find it out the hard way – when they have their first bone fracture. Often this leads to further fractures. Osteoporosis of the spine can cause hump back and reduce height.
Hump back in osteoporosis
What are the risk factors for osteoporosis?
The risk factors for osteoporosis include gender, certain medical conditions and lifestyle. It is more prevalent in women, especially post-menopausal women, than men. With menopause, the estrogen levels in women drops rapidly. This leads to the loss of calcium and minerals at a rapid rate than the body can replace them. Elderly men are also at risk, however, with age, their testosterone level drops gradually and therefore, their bone density remains adequate until very late.
Medical conditions that serve as risk factors for osteoporosis include rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney and liver diseases, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease and obesity. Life style related risk factors include smoking, excessive alcohol intake, long term physical inactivity, obesity and anorexia. Apart from these, low vitamin D and calcium levels can also be risk factors.
What are the treatments and medications for osteoporosis?
Always consult a qualified health care professional to make a proper diagnosis and let him or her decide appropriate treatment and medication.
In general, the medications for osteoporosis slow down osteoclasts, the cells that break down the bone, and speed up osteoblasts, the cells that make the bone. They include Alendronate (Fosamax), Ibandronate (Boniva), Risedronate (Actonel, Atelvia), Zoledronic acid (Reclast), Strontium ranelate (Protos), Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women, Testosterone treatment for men, Vitamin D and calcium supplements, Calcitonin, SERMs (Selective estrogen receptor modulators.
Minimizing the risk of osteoporosis
Lead a healthy lifestyle. Quit smoking and excessive alcohol intake. Be physically active and consume a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D. Have a regular check up with your doctor.
What is Osteoporosis?
In simple terms, ‘osteo’ refers to bones and ‘porosis’ refers to ‘pores or holes’. In other words, osteoporosis can be called bones with holes or bones with pores. Technically, osteoporosis is a disease of the bone in which the bone loses minerals, especially calcium, at a faster rate than the body can replace them. This leads to reduced bone thickness. As a result the bones become fragile and easily prone to fractures.
Osteoporosis means bones with pores or bones with holes.
What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?
Unfortunately, there are no obvious symptoms of osteoporosis. People find it out the hard way – when they have their first bone fracture. Often this leads to further fractures. Osteoporosis of the spine can cause hump back and reduce height.
Hump back in osteoporosis
What are the risk factors for osteoporosis?
The risk factors for osteoporosis include gender, certain medical conditions and lifestyle. It is more prevalent in women, especially post-menopausal women, than men. With menopause, the estrogen levels in women drops rapidly. This leads to the loss of calcium and minerals at a rapid rate than the body can replace them. Elderly men are also at risk, however, with age, their testosterone level drops gradually and therefore, their bone density remains adequate until very late.
Medical conditions that serve as risk factors for osteoporosis include rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney and liver diseases, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease and obesity. Life style related risk factors include smoking, excessive alcohol intake, long term physical inactivity, obesity and anorexia. Apart from these, low vitamin D and calcium levels can also be risk factors.
What are the treatments and medications for osteoporosis?
Always consult a qualified health care professional to make a proper diagnosis and let him or her decide appropriate treatment and medication.
In general, the medications for osteoporosis slow down osteoclasts, the cells that break down the bone, and speed up osteoblasts, the cells that make the bone. They include Alendronate (Fosamax), Ibandronate (Boniva), Risedronate (Actonel, Atelvia), Zoledronic acid (Reclast), Strontium ranelate (Protos), Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women, Testosterone treatment for men, Vitamin D and calcium supplements, Calcitonin, SERMs (Selective estrogen receptor modulators.
Minimizing the risk of osteoporosis
Lead a healthy lifestyle. Quit smoking and excessive alcohol intake. Be physically active and consume a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D. Have a regular check up with your doctor.
No comments:
Post a Comment