What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis, which literally means "porous bone", is a disease in which the density and quality of bone are reduced. As the bones become more porous and fragile, the risk of fracture is greatly increased. The loss of bone occurs "silently" and progressively. Often there are no symptoms until the first fracture occurs.

The most common fractures associated with osteoporosis occur at the hip, spine and wrist. The incidence of these fractures, particularly at the hip and spine, increases with age in both women and men.

Of notable concern are vertebral (spinal) and hip fractures. Vertebral fractures can result in serious consequences, including loss of height, intense back pain and deformity. A hip fracture often requires surgery and may result in loss of independent living.

The good news is that osteoporosis is now a largely treatable condition and, with a combination of lifestyle changes and appropriate medical treatment, many fractures can be avoided.

Osteoporosis occurs when bones lose minerals, such as calcium, more quickly than the body can replace them, leading to a loss of bone thickness (bone mass or density). As a result, bones become thinner and less dense, so that even a minor bump or accident can cause serious fractures. These are known as fragility or minimal trauma fractures.

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What are the Osteoporosis Causes?

Osteoporosis occurs when an imbalance occurs between new bone formation and old bone resorption. The body may fail to form enough new bone, or too much old bone may be reabsorbed, or both. Two essential minerals for normal bone formation are calcium and phosphate. Throughout youth, the body uses these minerals to produce bones. If calcium intake is not sufficient or if the body does not absorb enough calcium from the diet, bone production and bone tissue may suffer. Calcium is essential for proper functioning of the heart, brain, and other organs. To keep those critical organs functioning, the body may reabsorb calcium from the bones for their use. Thus, the bones may become weaker, resulting in brittle and fragile bones that can break easily.

Usually, the loss of bone happens over an extended period of years. Often, a person will sustain a fracture before becoming aware that the disease is present. By then, the disease may be in its advanced stages and damage may be serious.

City girls eat less than half the calcium necessary. In the country it’s a bit better, but one in four is in deficit. Amongst males only one in three is above the need set by the experts of the National Nutrition institute. This data emerges from research carried out in primary, secondary and high schools. The results are worrying, because a calcium deficit at a young age leads to more fragile bones at the age of major growth and little reserve calcium in old age.

Moreover it’s only possible in the first part of life to toughen the bones with a good dose of calcium consumed through food: up to 18 years of age we have the maximum ability to absorb calcium from foodstuffs and the maximum efficiency in depositing it within the bones. From 18 to 30 years these abilities of the organism progressively diminish.

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How Treat the Osteoporosis?

How Is Osteoporosis Treated?

Prevention and treatment of osteoporosis aims to stop bone loss and rebuild bone to prevent fractures. Along with making life-style changes, there are several medication choices. Some will slow your rate of bone loss, and others can help rebuild bone. Talk with your doctor to see if one of these is good for you:

• Alendronate and risedronate.
  

• These 1medicines are bisphosphonates, drugs that slow the breakdown of bone and increase bone density. They can lessen your chance of breaks in the spine, hip, and other bones. Side effects may include nausea, heartburn, and stomach pain. A few people have muscle, bone, or joint pain while using these medicines. These drugs must be taken in a certain way — when you first get up, before you have eaten, and with a full glass of water. You should not lie down or eat for at least one-half hour after taking the drug. They can cause serious digestive problems. These are available in both once-daily and once-a-week versions.

• Fosamax:

Fosamax is one of a group of drugs called bisphosphonates, and the jaw absorbs 10 times as much of a bisphosphonate as other bones in the body. Bisphosphonates prevent normal bone renewal, and the jaw and maxilla need renewal because they receive slight daily injuries from normal use. The continual injury and lack of renewal can lead to bone death.

Fosamax tablets contain the active ingredient alendronic acid (as sodium alendronate), which is a type of medicine called a bisphosphonate. (NB. Alendronic acid tablets are also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.) Bisphosphonates are medicines that prevent the breakdown of bone.

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