Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is disease process that affects the bone structures in your body. Over time, your bone matter decreases and becomes more porous as you age. In general, people reach what is known as peak bone mass in our early 20s. As we get older, we begin to lose bone in a process called resorption. At the same time, bone cells continually make new bone throughout our lives. When resorption occurs faster than bone formation, though, bone loss occurs. Bone becomes more porous and fragile. When the bones weaken, the risk of fracture increases.
While any fracture can be a serious occurrence, hip fractures are among the greatest public health concerns because the consequences are often devastating. Older adults who experience hip fractures have an increased risk of death during the first 12 months after the fracture. Among those who survive, many experience loss of mobility and may have to enter long-term care facilities.
There are two classifications of osteoporosis causes: primary and secondary.
Primary osteoporosis: Seen most often in postmenopausal females and elderly patients, this is the most common form of osteoporosis.
Secondary osteoporosis: Secondary osteoporosis occurs as a result of an underlying disease or health condition. Secondary osteoporosis has a variety of causes, including: kidney failure, cushing’s disease, anorexia or bulimia, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
Regardless of the cause, a proper diagnosis and treatment are crucial to protect bones from more loss.
There are a variety of treatment options to slow the progress of osteoporosis including: weight-bearing exercise, eating for healthy muscles and bones, using bisphosphonates, considering estrogen therapy, talking to your doctor about raloxifene and hormone replacement options.
