Osteoporosis symptoms and causes

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a condition in which there is a progressive decrease in the density of the bones, weakening the bones, and making bone fractures likely.

This is an age related condition just like heart disease; it sneaks on you as you get to age. Osteoporosis affects more than 25 million Americans both men and women but are more common to women.

Postmenstrual osteoporosis is most common type of osteoporosis and is the cause of most spinal, hip and wrist injuries to women.

Women’s bones are strongest when they are at 30 years of age. From then until menopause, women don’t lose much bone. But in the 5 to 7 years after menopause, women tend to lose 1 to 5 % of their bone mass per year. After that, bone loss is continuous but slowly.

For women, menopause is the turning point in osteoporosis. The bones’ ability to incorporate calcium from blood depends on the hormone estrogen. But as a woman passes through menopause, there is less production of estrogen. The loss of estrogen results to the decrease of calcium absorption by the bone and as a result lesser bone density and brittleness.

What are the Symptoms of Osteoporosis?

In the early stages of osteoporosis, there may be no obvious physical indicative that there is already a weakening of the bones. But once osteoporosis has already weakened the bones, the signs and symptoms may include;

• Back pain, which can be severe if you have a fractured or collapsed vertebra
• Loss of height over time, with an accompanying stooped posture
• Fracture of the vertebrae, wrists, hips or other bones

What Causes Osteoporosis?

The strength of the bones depends on their size and density; bone density depends in part on the amount of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals the bones contain. When the bones contain fewer minerals than normal, they’re less strong and eventually lose their internal supporting structure.

Scientists have yet to learn all the reasons why this occurs, but the process involves how bone is made. Bone is continuously changing — new bone is made and old bone is broken down — a process called remodeling, or bone turnover.

The risk of developing osteoporosis depends on the bone mass attained between ages 25 and 35 (peak bone mass) and how rapidly it is lost later. The higher the peak bone mass, the more bone reserve and the less likely to develop osteoporosis. Not getting enough vitamin D and calcium in your diet may lead to a lower peak bone mass and accelerated bone loss later.

You can protect your bones by maintaining a nutritionally well-balanced diet, regular exercises, and changing lifestyles.