All You Need To Know About Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a bone disorder characterized by porous and fragile bones. Bones become progressively weaker, increasing the risk of fractures, stooped posture, and height reduction. Osteoporosis causes millions of fractures worldwide each year. The condition affects both women and men, but it is more common in women than men. Post-menopausal women are at the highest risk because of hormonal changes. It can be devastating for a woman’s emotional, physical, and mental well-being. If you have any symptoms or are at risk for developing osteoporosis, you need to see a Boca Raton osteoporosis specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Causes of osteoporosis
A reduction of bone tissue causes osteoporosis. This can be due to low or no estrogen production in postmenopausal women but also due to an increase of destruction and elimination of the bone binding cells (osteoclasts). Osteoporosis causes bones to become more porous and fragile, leading to increased fracture risk.
The leading cause is low estrogen levels, caused by menopause or lack of ovarian function. Genetic factors are important as well. Specific genes increase the risk of developing osteoporosis, but they only cause the disease if combined with other factors such as estrogen deficiency or lack of physical activity.
Osteoporosis is also more common in people with a small frame, family history of osteoporosis, and diseases that affect the bone, such as thyroid disease.
Symptoms of osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is usually characterized by low-trauma fractures, which means they are often not painful at first and have no external symptoms. The fracture occurs because bones are fragile due to low density caused by depleted bone tissue. Some typical signs of osteoporosis are:
- Stooped posture
- A curved spine
- Loss of height, especially in the thoracic and lumbar spine
The first symptoms are often not felt by the patient.
Diagnosis
As there is no specific test to diagnose osteoporosis, a combination of factors are taken into account:
- The patient’s risk factors
- A family history
- A bone mineral density scan
- An X-ray
A pelvic X-ray examination can also reveal whether or not you have this condition.
Treatment
The treatment of osteoporosis has three goals: preventing further bone loss, stopping or minimizing fractures, and increasing bone mass. Lifestyle changes are essential to slow the progress of this disease.
Regular physical activity can help build strong bones, strengthen muscles and increase balance. Some medications stop the progression of bone loss. Bisphosphonates and denosumab bind to osteoclasts and reduce the rate of bone destruction. Parathyroid hormone stimulates new bone formation and reduces bone resorption. Even though they are expensive, several medications are more effective than placebo treatment in slowing or stabilizing disease progression.
Although there are treatments to slow or stop the progression of osteoporosis, there is no actual cure. Patients often have to take medications for years and even decades.
In summary, osteoporosis is a condition that affects the bones. It often goes undiagnosed and untreated because its symptoms can be subtle at first. If you have any of the risk factors listed above, see an osteoporosis specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment. They may recommend treatments such as a medication to slow bone loss or hormone therapy.