What is Osteoporosis
By: Tsou JinyeuTotal Views: 133, Word Count: 574,
The word “osteoporosis” is derived from a Latin word and literally means porous bones. This involves both the non-mineral (organic matrix) and mineral (inorganic) components of bone. Osteoporosis is a type of bone disease that increases the risk of fracture. Actually in this disease, the bone mineral density (BMD) gets reduced, bone micro architecture starts deteriorating and the variety and amount of proteins in bone gets altered. So here is a brief answer to the question “what is osteoporosis”.
Symptoms of Osteoporosis
Normally, there are no specific symptoms of osteoporosis until the first fracture occurs. These fractures occur in a situation where a healthy person would not break a bone. So such fractures are regarded as fragility fractures. Most of these fractures occur in the spine, vertebral column, hip, rib and waist.
Causes of Osteoporosis
The causes of osteoporosis include:
- Inequality between formation of new bones and absorption of old bones
- Failure in forming enough new bones
- Too much absorption of old bone
Conditions Leading to Osteoporosis
There are many conditions that lead to osteoporosis and include overuse of corticosteroids (Cushing syndrome), lack of muscle use, bone cancer, thyroid problems, certain genetic disorders, problem such as low calcium in the diet, and use of certain medications.
Risk Factors for Osteoporosis
- Usually women are at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis than men, especially those who are weak and thin.
- Any woman who had a surgically induced menopause, or absence, or abnormal menstrual periods are also at a higher risk.
- Asian or white women with a family history of osteoporosis are more likely to suffer from this disease.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is another risk factor for osteoporosis.
- Heavy alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, low intake of calcium in diet, eating disorders like bulimia and inactive lifestyle are also some of the risk factors.
- If either of the parents has/ had osteoporosis, then the risk factor increases for the offspring too.
Disorders and Diseases
There are many disorders and diseases associated with osteoporosis. These include Klinefelter syndrome, Turner syndrome, anorexia nervosa, Kallmann syndrome, hyperprolactinemia, hypothalamic amenorrhea and andropause. Bone loss also occurs due to endocrine disorders like diabetes mellitus, Cushing’s syndrome, thyrotoxicosis, hypothyroidism, hyperparathyrodisim, and acromegaly.
Parenteral nutrition, malabsorption and malnutrition also lead to osteoporosis. Some gastrointestinal and nutritional disorders that influence osteoporosis include lactose intolerance, Crohn’s disease, and coeliac disease.
A high risk of osteoporosis is possessed by people with rheumatologic disorders like ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and lupus erythematosus.
There are several hereditary disorders that are also associated with osteoporosis. Some of them are Marfan syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, hypophosphatasia, hemochromatosis, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, glycogen storage diseases and Menkes’ syndrome.
Prevention of Osteoporosis
Large number of medications is associated with osteoporosis due to its ill effects. Along with anticonvulsants and steroids, different drugs are also introduced to fight this disease. But as it is always said “prevention is better than cure”. This proverb goes with osteoporosis too. Little care and prevention can help to avoid this disease. Change in lifestyle, regular exercise, proper diet and medication will help in keeping away osteoporosis.
So here is a brief description about what is osteoporosis, its symptoms, causes and the diseases associated with it.
About the Author
Dr. Cuthbert is a well known endocrinologist who has done his graduation from Vassar College – Poughkeepsie in New York and MD from Vanderbilt University Medical School, Nashville. His area of interests are bone densitometry, diabetes and nutrition. Nowdays he is working as a medical endocrinologist at NewYork Presbyterian hospital.
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