Osteoporosis – Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

Dr.Aashish Chaudhry, 4 mins read

What is Osteoporosis?

A medical condition in which the bone mass of the person gets low and causes bones to become abnormally weak and brittle and prone to fractures. The bones become so brittle that even mild stress on the bone can cause a fracture. Fractures related to osteoporosis, generally occur in the hip, wrist, and spine but may also affect other bones of the body.

Bones are living tissues and are in a constant process of renewal. New bone mass is made and old bone mass is broken constantly. Osteoporosis occurs when the body loses too much bone mass and makes too few.

Symptoms of Osteoporosis:

Generally, there are no symptoms in the early stage of bone loss. Most people feel normal until they sustain a fracture. But once the bones are weakened due to osteoporosis, you might have the following signs and symptoms:

Back pain due to a fractured spine
Height loss
Stooped posture

Osteoporosis- Causes and risk

Many factors can increase the risk of Osteoporosis, such as age, race, lifestyle, and medical condition. Women past menopause are at risk of Osteoporosis. Estrogen (female hormone) normally helps to maintain bone mass. The level of estrogen hormone falls after menopause. Certain medical conditions mentioned below can also lead to Osteoporosis: -

Have more calcium and vitamin D in your diet – We should take 1000 – 1200 mg of calcium and 800 IU of Vitamin D daily.
Exercise – It will help us to build strong bones and also strengthen our muscles.
Weight-bearing exercises- such as walking, jogging, running, and climbing stairs help to prevent osteoporosis. Balance exercise reduces the risk of falls, especially in older people.
Avoid smoking
Avoid excess alcohol intake

Apart from this, some medications may also contribute to Osteoporosis. Medications include stesteroidsd and epilepsy medicines.

Some risk factors cannot be changed and are beyond our control. These include sex, race, and family history of osteoporosis. Avoiding some lifestyles mentioned below can help reduce the risk of Osteoporosis:-

Osteoporosis- Diagnosis

A bone mineral density (BMD) test is done to examine bone density. Osteoporosis is diagnosed when the density is extremely low. BMD testing is normally done using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, otherwise known as a DEXA scan. This is a special hip and spine X-ray

The results of BMD testing are very useful to diagnose osteoporosis, ad to guide decisions about starting or adjusting treatment for osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis- Treatment

There are medications available to treat osteoporosis and reduce the risk of fractures. These medications are available in several forms. Osteoporosis medications may be taken in tablet form, and also in the form of injections once a year, twice a year, or daily. Your doctor will take your osteoporosis history and your overall health before recommending medications that are most suitable for you.

People suffering from Kidney, liver, and lung disease or who have an immune system problem, nervous system problems, or problems in any other organ for a long time, are likely to have osteoporosis disease.
Hormonal problems
Patients with cancer
Malnutrition

A low calcium and vitamin D diet
Excessive dieting
Inactive lifestyle
Heavy use of alcohol
Tobacco
Smoking

Department of Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement at Aakash Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital comprises highly qualified surgeons who have complete training in all aspects of Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement. The department provides the most comprehensive treatment in the area of Orthopaedics, for adults and paediatrics. Our highly skilled and dedicated team of specialists, coupled with a state-of-the-art healing environment, internationally accepted surgical protocols and a full-fledged rehabilitation program ensure the best treatment possible. Aakash healthcare has helped many patients gain their bone mass through proper medications and exercise techniques.

Also Read: Why is Osteoporosis on the rise among young Indians?