Osteoporosis - Symptoms & Treatment

Osteoporosis is a silent disease. It is a condition which features loss of the rational density of bone and fragile bone. Skeleton sabotage the bone leading to an increase in the risk of breaking bones (bone fracture). Normal bone is imperturbabled by protein, collagen, and calcium. Bones which are affected by osteoporosis can fracture with only a minor fall or injury which normally would not cause a bone fracture. Fracture can be either in the form of cracking (as in a hip fracture ), or collapsing (as in a compression fracture of the vertebrae of the spine). The spine, hips, and wrists are common regions of osteoporosis-related bone fractures, though osteoporosis-related fractures can also occur in almost any skeletal bone area. Bone mass (bone density) is the amount of bone adduce in the skeletal structure. The higher the density is, the stronger are the bones. Bone density is strongly affected by genetic factors, which in turn are occassionally modified by environmental factors and medications. Estrogen is substantial in maintaining bone density in women. When estrogen levels drop after menopause, bone loss accelerates. Osteoporosis occurs when the body fails to develop enough new bone, or when too much old bone is reabsorbed by the body, or both.

Calcium and phosphate are two minerals which are essential for normal bone formation. Calcium and phosphate may be reabsorbed back into the body from the bones, that makes the bone tissue weaker. Both situations can result in frangible, fragile bones that are subject to fractures, even without trauma. Person will endure a fracture before becoming aware that the disease is present. By the time this happens, the disease is in its advanced stages and the damage is severe. The leading causes are a drop in estrogen in women at the time of menopause, and a drop in testosterone in men. Women, especially those above the age of 50, get osteoporosis more often than men. Other causes include excessive corticosteroid from Cushing's syndrome, hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone), hyperparathyroidism, being restricted to a bed, and bone cancers.

Causes of Osteoporosis

Common causes of Osteoporosis

• Menopause.
• Thyroid hormone.
• Cushing's syndrome.Smoking.
• Eating disorders.
• Low body weight.
• Heavy alcohol consumption.
• Early menopause.
• Absence of menstrual periods.
• Poor nutrition.

Symptoms of Osteoporosis

Common Symptoms of Osteoporosis

• Low back pain.
• Neck pain.
• Bone pain or tenderness.
• Loss of height over time.
• Stooped posture.

Treatment of Osteoporosis

Common Treatment of Osteoporosis

• Raloxifene (Evista) is another drug used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Raloxifene is very much alike to the breast cancer drug tamoxifen. Raloxifene can reduce the chances of spinal fractures by almost 50%. (It does not seem to prevent other fractures, including those in the hip)
• HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY HRT might be effective for diminishing the risk of heart disease and bone fractures caused by osteoporosis in addition to treating menopausal symptoms.
• Calcitonin is a medication which slows the rate of bone loss and relieves bone pain.
• Teriparatide (recombinant parathyroid hormone 1-34) has been shown to be beneficial in osteoporosis.