Osteoporosis is a condition wherein the bones of a person become fragile and porous. Bones become porous due to a depletion of calcium that leads to the bone becoming brittle. If not prevented, or if left untreated, a case of osteoporosis may progress painlessly until one day when the bone breaks. The bones that usually fracture are the hipbones, spine and wrist.
The inside of a bone consists of a strong mesh of protein and minerals that are constantly renewed by bone turnover. In this process, old and worn-out bones are broken down to be absorbed by the body while new bone tissue is created from fresh protein and minerals. In young children and men, more new bone is created than is broken down. This is how bones become denser and bigger, and is also the reason for the lesser occurrence of osteoporosis in men. Bones are strongest when the peak bone mass is reached, which is usually around the mid-twenties. This remains for about ten years, until about 35, when bone loss begins to overtake creation as a normal aging process. However, in cases of osteoporosis, this process happens more quickly, to lead to premature bone weakness.
Osteoporosis usually strikes the elderly population and can be prevented by a vitamin-rich diet, exercise and proper treatment. Any bone can be affected by osteoporosis as long as the infected bone is less dense than normal bones. However, a hip fracture requires major surgery and hospitalization. Spinal fractures have other serious consequences that include loss of height, severe back pain and deformity. Nowadays, millions of Americans are at risk of contracting osteoporosis. However, women are always four times more likely to develop this than men; and whites and Asians more likely than Latinos and Blacks, due to genetics. Osteoporosis is also more common in women going through menopause.
Related Articles of Interest :
-
Osteoporosis Prevention
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Osteoporosis is a disease wherein bones become fragile or porous and thus brittle, leading to easy fractures. A bone mineral density test (BMD) is the only way one can diagnose osteoporosis and thus determine any risks for future fracture. The main reason BMD has to...
-
Menopause And Osteoporosis
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Estrogen is an important hormone that is required to maintain bone strength. During menopause, the ovaries stop producing estrogen. Over the next several years, bones become progressively weaker. A woman may lose up to ten percent of her total bone mass in the first five...
-
Causes of Osteoporosis
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
It is a known fact that more bone is laid down more than it is removed in the early life of a person. An individual’s peak bone mass is reached at the age of thirty, wherein the remodeling process starts, that takes away more bone...
-
Osteoporosis Treatments
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Osteoporosis is a condition where the bones of our body become brittle due to lesser bone density. Osteoporosis does not have a complete cure, but nowadays there are different forms of treatment that help prevent fractures and increase bone density. Basically, osteoporosis has medication that...
-
Calcium Deficiency
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
A body deficient in calcium is proof of an inadequate supply of calcium or a failure to metabolize calcium. This is the chief bodybuilding element of bones and teeth, and is among the vital minerals that contribute to the growth, repair and reproduction of the...
-
Osteoarthritis Symptoms
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Osteoarthritis progresses with age and affects the area around the joints. One experiences pain, stiffness or swellings due to complete loss of cartilage cushion, extended periods of inactivity, or trauma. The pain differs in intensity from low to high, increasing in humid weather, followed by...
-
Menopause Treatment
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Menopause is a normal part of a woman’s life, and as such requires no treatment. However, the symptoms a menopausal woman suffers may range from mild to debilitating. These symptoms may require some form of treatment. Up until recently, hormone replacement therapy, in particular estrogen...
-
Lower Back Pain
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
The back is made up of several different bones, called vertebrae, which are stacked upon each other to form a strong column that supports the upper portion of the body. Bones near neck are called cervical vertebrae, those adjacent to chest are called thoracic vertebrae,...
-
Calcium
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
The need for calcium in our daily diet can never be overstated. Not only does it give us energy with all that it does for our bones and teeth, it is also an essential nutrient for our body’s routine activities, keeps the heart beating at...
-
An Introduction to Whey Protein
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Made from cow’s milk, whey protein is a pure, all-natural, high-quality product that contains little to no fat, lactose or cholesterol and is a rich source of essential amino acids. In its purest form, whey protein isolate, it provides benefits for men and women of...