Osteoporosis is a bone disease that develops when bone mineral density and bone mass decreases, or when the quality or structure of bone changes. This can lead to a decrease in bone strength that can increase the risk of fractures (broken bones).
What happens to bone structure?
Osteoporosis means “porous bone.” Viewed under a microscope, but healthy bone looks like a honeycomb. When osteoporosis occurs, the holes and spaces in the honeycomb are much larger than in healthy bone. Osteoporotic bones have lost density or mass and contain abnormal tissue structures.
Why osteoporosis is serious?
Breaking a bone is a serious complication of osteoporosis, especially with older patients. Osteoporotic bone breaks are most likely to occur in the hip, spine, wrist
but other bones can break too. In addition to causing permanent pain, osteoporosis causes some patients to lose height.
When osteoporosis affects vertebrae or the bones of the spine, it often leads to a stooped or hunched posture. Osteoporosis may limit mobility, which often leads to feelings of isolation or depression. Additionally, twenty percent of seniors who break a hip die within one year from either complication related to the broken bone itself or the surgery to repair it. Many patients require long-term nursing home care.
Osteoporosis is a common disorder. Studies suggest that approximately one in two women and up to one in four men age 50 and older will break a bone due to osteoporosis.
Clinical Signs and Symptoms
Back pain: Episodic, acute low thoracic/upper lumbar pain
Compressions due to fracture of the spine
Bone fractures
Decrease in height
Kyphosis
Dowager’s hump
Decreased activity tolerance
Early satiety
Risk factors
Age 50 years and older
Female gender
Caucasian and Asian
Menopause (especially early or surgically induced)
Family history of osteoporosis or fragility
fractures
Northern European ancestry
Long periods of inactivity or immobilization
Depression
Alcohol (>3 drinks/day)
Tobacco
Caffeine (>4 cups/ day)
Amenorrhea (absence of menstruations)
Thin body build
How to prevent osteoporosis?
There are many risk factors for osteoporosis that you cannot control. These include being female, getting older, and having a family history of osteoporosis. There are some factors, however, that do fall within your control.
Some of the best ways to prevent osteoporosis include ;
Getting recommended daily amount of calcium and vitamin D, Including dairy foods, oily fish, nuts, and green vegetables.
Exercises will keep your bones strong and healthier. Doing resistance training and weight-bearing exercises under the supervision of your physiotherapist will improve your bone health.
Stop smoking
If you are diagnosed with osteoporosis, physiotherapy treatments, medications, hormone therapy, and Ca-rich healthy diet will help you to increase your quality of life.
Hasini Arumadura
References
https://www.nof.org/patients/what-is-osteoporosis/
https://www.bones.nih.gov/health-info/bone/bone-health/bone-health-life-health-information-basics-you-and-your-family
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