What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a condition where there is
a decrease in the mass and strength of the
bone. This makes a person more vulnerable
to fractures of the spine, hips and wrist.
Who Gets Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis affects 20% of women over the
age of 45 and 40% of women over the age of
75. Men are much less affected.
What Causes
Osteoporosis?
From childhood to early adulthood, more bone
is formed than absorbed in our body. After
age 35, the body starts to loose very small
amounts of bone. After menopause, women will
lose bone much more rapidly due to the decrease
in estrogen levels. This bone loss will result
in reduced bone strength.
What is it
Like to Have Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis can be painful, disfiguring
and debilitating. The spine can collapse and
lead to a stooped posture called "dowager’s
hump". When a person falls, the hips,
spine, and wrists are easily broken.
What Factors
may Make a Person More Likely to Develop Osteoporosis?
The following are risk factors for developing
osteoporosis:
-
early menopause before
the age of 45 – either naturally or
after the surgical removal of the ovaries
-
high intake of alcohol
(more than 2 drinks a day) or caffeine
-
cigarette smoking
-
low dietary calcium intake
-
lack of exercise, particularly
those that use the long bones, such as walking
-
some medications, such
as long term corticosteroids
-
some medical conditions
such as thyroid disease, disorders of the
intestines and kidney
How
to Detect Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis can be detected
on plain X-rays and special bone scans such
as dual energy X-ray densitometry.
How
to Treat and Prevent Osteoporosis?
Prevention is better than cure.
The following are good measures that can be
taken to prevent osteoporosis:
-
adequate dietary calcium
intake – eat more diary foods like
cheese, milk, and foods high in calcium
including sardines, almonds
- avoid smoking
- avoid heavy alcohol use
-
adequate weight bearing
exercises e.g. walking, jogging at least
3 times a week for at least 20 minutes each
time
Calcium and vitamin D supplements
should be given to all postmenopausal women.
This has be shown to reduce bone loss and prevent
osteoporotic fractures.
In early menopause, hormone
replacement therapy is recommended. Estrogen
replacement is effective in preventing postmenopausal
bone loss and osteoporotic fractures. However
hormone replacement requires regular medical
follow-up and not all women are suitable for
estrogen replacement.
In a postmenopausal woman with
established osteoporosis, hormone replacement
therapy can still be recommended. Other medications
like biphosphonates(alendronate or etidronate)
and calcitonin can be used and are as effective
if hormone replacement therapy is not suitable.
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