What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bone mass and density decrease and bone tissue get a lot thinner. Those that have osteoporosis, are very prone to fracturing bones. Any bone may be affected, but the most commonly fractured bones are the wrist, spine, and hip. Fractures in the hip and spine are the most dangerous out of all fractures for many reasons. Hip fractures can impair one's walking and may require assistance for the rest of their life. Not to mention, it may cause a permanent disability and can be fatal. Fractures on the spine can create loss of height, terrible back pain, and deformity.
How common is osteoporosis?
Women are four times more likely to get osteoporosis than men and 80% of those with the disease are women. Scientists have proven that age increases the probability of getting osteoporosis. There was a study done on Caucasian women in the United States. The results showed that 14% of those that were 50-59 years old had osteoporosis, 22% that were 60 to 69 had the disease, 39% of those aged 70-79 years had it, and 70% of the women who were 80 years and older had it. This shows that with osteoporosis, age really does make a huge difference.
How can I prevent getting this disease?
Loss of calcium results in bone mass and density decrease, which makes bones weak and frail. This is the most common symptom of osteoporosis. One way to prevent getting this disease is by having a diet rich in calcium. Not only is calcium essential for having strong bones, but also strong teeth and proper body functions on the heart and brain. Another leading cause for osteoporosis is loss of Vitamin D. Some products rich in Vitamin D are dairy products, many types of fish, and green leafy vegetables. Dairy products and orange juice, are actually rich in both Vitamin D and calcium. Vitamin D isn't always consumed; sunlight is also a great source of this vitamin. Another main cause of osteoporosis is lack of certain hormones. For men this hormone is called is androgen and for females it is estrogen. For women, estrogen levels decrease after menopause causing an increase in risk for osteoporosis. This is one of the main reasons why women's age increases the risk for this disease.
Diagnosis and treatment for osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is diagnosed by measuring the bone mineral density, otherwise known as the BMD. X-ray absorptiometry (DXA or DEXA) is the most common way to measure a person's BMD. Whether or not one has the disease, is determined by the following. If a person's BMD is between -1.0 and -2.5, they are diagnosed with osteopenia. Osteopenia is when bone mineral density is lower than normal and is said to be a precursor to osteoporosis. If a person's BMD is under -2.5, they are diagnosed with osteoporosis. One treatment for osteoporosis is exercise, for healthier bones. Another is nutrition supplementation, calcium in particular, which strengthen your bones. The last type of treatment for osteoporosis is medication. The four most common medications for this disease are Fosamax, Miacalcin, Raloxifene, and Estrogen.
References:
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/osteoporosis/article_em.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteoporosis
http://www.mise.org/mise/index.jsp?p=glossary
http://www.nof.org/osteoporosis/index.htm
http://www.online-vitamins-guide.com/vitamins/vitamin-d.htm
http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/osteoporosis/a/osteoporosis_2.htm
By A.