Osteoporosis is a condition
of the bones that causes them to become porous and brittle. The basic problem is
that the rate of bone resorption outpaces the rate of bone deposition. The body
requires a constant supply of calcium to form new bone and when the amount of
calcium lost in the urine, faeces and sweat is higher than the amount absorbed
from the diet calcium depletion occurs and the result is osteoporosis.
Over time bone mass become so
depleted that bones begin to fracture, often spontaneously, because the stresses
caused by undemanding everyday activities. For example, a hip bone affected by
osteoporosis can fracture simply by sitting down too quickly.
The condition affects the
entire skeletal system however the majority of fractures occur in the hip, wrist
and vertebrae regions. In the UK alone osteoporosis causes around 150,000
fractures each year and as the condition worsens in individuals the chances of
fracturing a bone increases steeply.
It is estimated that over
6million people live with osteoporosis in the UK alone and that around 75% of
these sufferers are female. There are two main reasons why women suffer with the
condition more than men.
·
Women’s bones
are less massive than those of men and so the same amount of bone loss in the
two sexes with leave the female with a higher degree of porosity.
·
The production
of estrogens in women declines dramatically around the menopause whereas
testosterone production in men fades away slowly and only slightly with age.
Both estrogens and testosterone are responsible for the stimulation of
osteoblast activity (the cells that make new bone matrix) and so in women the
synthesis of replacement bone matrix slows dramatically with old age.
Besides gender there are a
number of risk factors that contribute to the probability of developing
osteoporosis in later life including a family history of the disease, ancestry,
thin or small body build, an inactive lifestyle, cigarette smoking, a diet low
in calcium and vitamin D, more than two alcoholic drinks a day and the use of
certain medications.
Other symptoms of
osteoporosis, in addition to the fractures that commonly occur in affected
bones, include shrinkage of the vertebrae, height loss, a hunched back and
chronic bone pain. As the condition worsens the bone pain becomes severe and
movement is severely restricted.
Diagnosis of osteoporosis
involves a consultation with the doctor where family history, lifestyle and
personal medical notes will be discussed. If the doctor has cause to believe
that a patient is suffering from early osteoporosis he will recommend a special
test called a ‘bone mineral density test’ where x-rays are taken of different
areas around the body. These x-rays show up areas of low bone density that might
be potential sites for future fractures. The results of the test are compared
with an ‘aged matched’ result which is what the patient’s results should say.
Anything significantly below this aged matched target is diagnosed as
osteoporosis.
Prevention, in the case of osteoporosis, is better than treatment. Ensuring
adequate calcium intake and weight-bearing exercise in early life may be more
beneficial than taking drugs and calcium supplements in old age. The skeleton is
one of the most important systems of the human body and everything should be
done to make sure it stays in one piece.
