What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a degenerative condition where bones become weak and brittle as they lose their structural integrity, and the person becomes more susceptible to bone fractures or bone breaks because of it. Human bones are living tissue, and for a person with good bone health the creation of new bone keeps pace with the loss of bone tissue that occurs for all bones in the body. This regeneration is particularly essential for weight-bearing bones like the femurs and hip bones.

With osteoporosis the amount of bone tissue being lost isn’t sufficiently replaced by new tissue, and the bones weaken and don’t have the same strength and rigidity. Osteoporosis is most common in Asian and Caucasian women, and is especially common after women pass their menopausal years. 

What Causes Osteoporosis

A person’s bone regeneration process is one that is very healthy and robust in their youth, and for most people it is around the age of 30 that they are at their peak bone mass. After this the process starts to slow and more bone is lost than is regenerated. Some ethnicities will experience more of this deficit, and other factors that will determine your risk of osteoporosis are sex, family history, and bone frame size as people with smaller skeletal structures are more likely to have osteoporosis. 

Hormonal imbalances can also be behind what causes osteoporosis. Low sex hormone levels (testosterone for men / estrogen for women), excess thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism), and overactive adrenal or parathyroid glands can also promote osteoporosis. Diet may play a role as well with low calcium intake or eating disorders that lead to insufficient nutritional intake also factoring into weakened bones. 

Medical conditions can also increase the chance of developing osteoporosis, and they include: 

• Inflammatory bowel disease 
• Celiac disease 
• Liver or kidney disease 
• Cancer 
• Rheumatoid arthritis 
• Multiple myeloma

Osteoporosis Symptoms

The most common osteoporosis symptoms are bones breaking too easily, back pain caused broken or collapsed bones in the spine, stooped posture and inability to sit or stand up straight without difficulty, and loss of height over time. Perceived weakness and hesitancy to lift or carry loads may also be an indication that a person has the weakened bones that come with osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis Treatment

The standard approach for osteoporosis treatment is to have sufferers start on bisphosphonate medications like Fosamax or Zometa, as well to supplement calcium and Vitamin D levels. For some osteoporosis sufferers it may be recommended that they also have a Denosumab injection once every month, and Evista is the common choice for post-menopausal women needing hormone replacement therapy for osteoporosis.

A doctor may also advise doing  physical therapy that focuses on strengthening muscles around the bones at risk. Balance exercises may also be helpful, and in some cases it may be beneficial to make modifications to the home to reduce the risk of falls. Examples can be grab bars outside the shower or tub or a step platform to get in and out bed more easily.