Health

  What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis – or pores in the bones – is a disease characterized by loss of bone mass leading to bone fragility and to probable increase of bone fractures, mainly in the pelvis, hips and vertebral (spinal) column.

  What are its symptoms?

Many times Osteoporosis is a "silent disease", since bone loss usually occurs without symptoms. People may also have osteoporosis and do not know their condition until one day, due to bone weakness, an impetuous move, a bump, or even a minor fall, a fracture occurs. Then, pain comes, sometimes intense pain, even through pains in the back, if there is vertebral column endangering.

  How are the fractures?

Fractures are severe Osteoporosis complications, being an important public health issue. The most common fractures are hip, femur (femoral head), vertebral column, and wrist and shoulder fractures.

Of all upper limb fractures, the wrist fracture is the most frequent, mainly in elderly women of 50 – 70 years of age and occurring essentially during the winter period. Minor-to-moderate bone traumas produce this kind of fracture (wrist fracture), such as to fall on your two flat hands due lack of balance. In the shoulders, the proximal humerus fracture, though much more rare, occurs in some falls that use the upper limbs as support. In relation to pelvis and femur fractures, falls are their main cause. We should also not forget that many times the patient first fractures the femoral head spontaneously when he/she falls. These fractures force the physician to intern his/her patients. It is very important to stimulate osteoporotic patients to participate in an active program of fall prevention.

Fractures that occur between people of 45 and 65 years of age are more related to acute compression with intense pain, whereas those which occur among people of more advanced age are, at the beginning, less painful. Pains may be local or irradiated (for example, to the thorax) and usually are followed by paravertebral muscle contractions. These symptoms can be relieved when the patient is on forced bed rest.

  Can anyone develop Osteoporosis?

There is no doubt that the main cause of Osteoporosis in women is menopause, when the production of the estrogen and progestin hormones ceases. However, there are people more susceptible to development of Osteoporosis than others, when the so-called "Risk Factors" can be actuated unleashing or enhancing disorders of bone mineralization. Among the several "Risk Factors" we highlight menopause before the age of 45 (even when due to uterus and/or ovarium removal surgery), familial history of fractures in young women, chronic use of drugs, such as corticoid and anticonvulsant drugs, chronic low-calcium diet, sedentarism due to low physical activity, tabagism, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, advanced age and people of Caucasian or Asian origin.

Familial history: If your mother or grandmother suffers from Osteoporosis, your risk of developing the same disease is bigger. Besides, a relative of yours may have characteristic symptoms of Osteoporosis, such as bone fractures due to minor bone trauma, spinal column flexion (forward bending) or stature decrease.

Chronic use of drugs: Some drugs, such as corticoids, when used during a long period of time, can have a harmful effect on human bones. Frequently corticoids are used in long-term treatments for asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. If you are using them, warn you doctor about this. The same thing can happen to anticonvulsant users.

Chronic low-calcium diet: An inadequate diet of calcium deprives your body of the necessary raw materials for maintaining bone mass strength. Any person with nutritional deficiency, or whose diet lacks calcium-rich foods, such as milky products, fresh vegetables and greens, is at greater risk of Osteoporosis. The total body burden of calcium in an adult human body is about 1.5%, of which 99 percent is associated with the skeleton. Everyday our body eliminates about 400g of Calcium. In order to compensate this loss, you should take about 800 – 1100mg of Calcium (human adult of 50 years of age) everyday.

Sedentarism: Our bone resistance is established partly by the physical exertion demanded by our skeleton. So the same way our muscles become weak due to lack of use, our bones also need a certain amount of physical exercise to remain strong and healthy. People confined to bed rest or to a wheelchair, whose way of life is particularly sedentary, have a great risk to develop Osteoporosis.

Tobacco smoke and alcohol: Smoking and excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages speed up bone loss, what increases the incidence of Osteoporosis.

  How can the Osteoporosis be treated?

The National Osteoporosis Foundation in the United States agrees that Osteoporosis doesn’t have a cure. However, there are also many drugs that help to reduce or even stop bone mass loss and consequently to reduce fractures occurrence. Take medical advice periodically, mainly after menopause. If it is necessary, the doctor will know what to prescribe according to your needs. Never prescribe medicines for yourself nor accept advice from other people than your physician that may suggest any other therapeutic plan. Your healthy is very important since your life depends on it.