Osteoporosis is a quite common medical condition. Like cold, cough, headache, raised blood pressure we won’t see osteoporosis in us or our relatives. Rather, in most instances, it will reveal itself with the only complication, and that is a bone fracture. If we search the cause of bone fracture in elderly patients and post-menopausal lady, we will see that osteoporosis is the main factor! So what is osteoporosis?
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Literally, osteoporosis means porous bone. When the density of a bone is reduced from its normal mass per unit volume we call the condition osteoporosis. It can be defined differently as the increased fragility of bones. That means when a bone reduces mass per unit volume it becomes more fragile and the chance of fracture increases many folds. Calcium is the main determinant of bone mass density. So that osteoporosis has a direct relationship with body and bone calcium levels. The diseases or conditions which alter the normal calcium levels, invite osteoporosis.
Normally, it is a disease of post-menopausal ladies and elderly men (some disease condition may bring it earlier). One of female sex hormone, Estrogen, has a major role in maintaining normal calcium levels in bones. When a female reaches menopause and the support of estrogen stops, the body starts losing calcium at a much faster rate. Within next 5-10 years, osteoporosis develops and weight-bearing bones become most affected. After 65 years of age, the rate of fracture increase 3-5 times.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for post-menopausal ladies has prevented estrogen deficiency and thus osteoporosis. But the development of breast cancer associated with HRT has brought negative impact on it.
Osteoporosis is common but silent, measurable its extent, preventable but potentially lethal. A patient with osteoporosis, even with a minor trauma, fracture might happen. Osteoporosis usually present with a fracture and it is the first manifestation of underlying osteoporosis. The most affected (fracture) bones are the lower end of the forearm (named Colles fracture), the neck of the femur (bones of thigh) and vertebra (backbone). Vertebral collapse (height shrinkage) is the hallmark of osteoporosis.
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I'm afraid my elder sister might suffer Osteoporosis since she has been diagnosed with amenorrhea just last week. And the result says, she would need long term HRT. :(
That is really a matter of concern. HRT is a way to treatment but she has to keep in touch with her doctor regarding risk of development of breast cancer. Hope that everything will come to an reasonably accepted end.
Thank you. nice information.
You are welcome buddy
Very informative!
Glad to know that it seemed informative to you :)
Hmmm, I think I already have Osteoporosis , doc. :(
That's not good thing. If you suspect of having osteoporosis, you should be very careful doing strenuous activities. Please don't take it lightly.
its really a nice article helps people
Thanks for you kind words
This is nice and quite informative @hafiz34
Thanks for you kind word. Much appreciated.
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Just found your profile and I love it,these posts Are very useful. I am soon to become a doctor so I will make sure to follow all of your future posts.
thanks doc for this! the reason why most women suffer this. my grandma i guess had severe , she can't stand straight anymore until she died
Hey, I think it's a really good and compact article you wrote here on osteoporosis!
Today I have heard that about 80% of over 60 year old women suffer from this disease. Did you find any sources which confirm this number?
Maybe at the end you could include some information about how one can prevent osteoporosis. For example by muscular training also the bone structure gets more stabil..
Nevertheless, I resteemed you post! Go on :)
Greetings, Co-co