Osteoporosis And Osteopenia

An increase in the fracture rate in the elderly and some specific people has been observed, and that’s due to a condition called osteoporosis, whereas continuous loss of density in the bones without management leads to osteoporosis because the bones become weaker and more susceptible to breakage.

Osteopenia

It’s the loss of bone density due to several reasons, and it leads to osteoporosis when unmanaged.

Osteoporosis

It’s a condition that causes bones weakness and fragility, so that they become weak, thin, and more susceptible to fractures.

This condition is one of the most common bone diseases, and it’s more prevalent in women, especially after menopause, and in the white race more than the black one.

Causes and risk factors leading to osteoporosis

Normally, bones destroy and reconstruct themselves continuously, but in the case of osteoporosis, the rate of destruction becomes incompatible with the reconstruction rate, which leads to osteoporosis.

The risk factors include the following:

• Being older than 50.
• Women in menopause.
• Family history.
• Being white or Asian.
• Thin and small bodies in general.
• Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking.
• Not exercising enough.
• The increase of the thyroid hormone, the decrease of sex hormones like progesterone in females, and problems with the adrenal hormones.
• Not having enough foods that contain calcium and vitamin D.
• Bariatric surgeries, such as gastric sleeve surgery.
• Some conditions, such as autoimmune diseases (like rheumatoid arthritis), gastrointestinal diseases (like celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease), blood disorders and cancers (multiple myeloma), and liver and kidney diseases.
• Certain medications, such as corticosteroids (like cortisone), diuretics, seizure medications, hormonal medications for some cancers, anticoagulants, and acid reflux medications (they’re called proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole).

Symptoms of osteoporosis

Usually, there aren’t any symptoms in the early stages of osteoporosis, but as the condition progresses, the following symptoms could manifest:

• Fractures after simple falls or traumas.
• Low back pain due to a break or collapse in a spine bone.
• Loss of height over time.
• Change in the body posture and bending the back.
• Shortness of breath, which occurs when the disks in the spine are compressed, which leads to a reduction in lung capacity.
• If the condition isn’t managed quickly, it leads to dangerous bone breaks, such as spinal and hip fractures.

Diagnosis of osteoporosis

• Osteoporosis is diagnosed through a bone density test, which is an imaging test.

Management of osteoporosis

• Managing the condition is done by giving the patient the vitamins and minerals that they need, especially calcium and vitamin D, exercising more, and taking specific osteoporosis medications that reduce the destruction of the bones.

Prevention of osteoporosis

• Preventing osteoporosis is mainly done by having enough calcium and vitamin D in addition to exercising regularly.
• When you have osteoporosis, you must try to protect yourself from falls and traumas as much as possible.