Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by weak and brittle bones. Osteoporosis is a term to discribe porous bones. Sometimes the bones can become so brittle that activities like bending over, lifting a vacuum or coughing can cause a fracture. Osteoporosis is a condition that causes thinning and weakening of normal bone.

The definition of osteoporosis is a decrease of the density of bone mass. When this occurs, a patient with osteoporosis will have weaker bones and have a higher risk of bone fracture. Osteoporosis is not arthritis, which leads to problems within joints due to cartilage wear. Instead, osteoporosis is a problem of the bone, and its ability to adequately support the weight of your body.

There are two main categories of osteoporosis, Type I and Type II. Type I osteoporosis occurs only in post-menopausal women, and is due to estrogen deficiency. Type II osteoporosis occurs in both men and women (about two times more frequently in women), and is due to aging, and calcium deficiency over many years.

Osteoporosis Statistics

• It is estimated that one in two women over 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture.

• Osteoporosis is a threat to 28 million Americans and is currently one of the most under-diagnosed and under-treated disorders in medicine.

• According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, once a woman reaches 60 years of age, she has a one in four chance of breaking a bone due to osteoporosis.

• In the United States, it is estimated that osteoporosis accounts for more than 1.5 million fractures each year.

What causes osteoporosis?
As people age, the amount of bone in their body steadily decreases. Women are especially prone to developing thin bone because they don't develop as much bone while younger, and the rate of bone loss in women is greater than men. Because of this, age and gender are the most important risk factors for developing osteoporosis.

Both men and women achieve their "peak bone mass" in the third decade of life. After that time, bone mass gradually, but steadily decreases. In pregnant and lactating women, the rate of bone loss will temporarily increase if the increased calcium demands of pregnancy or breastfeeding are not met by increased dietary intake of calcium. In women, there is also a significant decrease of bone mass in the immediate postmenopausal period.

Other important risk factors that can contribute to developing osteoporosis include Northern European ancestry, hypothyroidism, anticonvulsant medications, and a sedentary lifestyle. Americans are especially prone to developing osteoporosis, the exact cause of this is not known. We do know that this is not entirely related to ancestry, as studies have shown that individuals who immigrate into the United States from other countries develop an American's higher risk of osteoporosis.

National Osteoporosis Foundation