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Osteoporosis

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La osteoporosis, a rather tricky bone disease. You may not even know you have it until you break a bone., and that means that the disease is already very advanced.

If the word osteoporosis is divided into its roots, is obtained: “osteo” which means bone and “porosis” which means porous.

Although healthy bones have "pores" as part of their intricate honeycomb design, bones affected by osteoporosis, Nevertheless, they have bigger holes, making them weaker and more likely to break.

Any bone can be affected by osteoporosis, but the bone fractures of the spine – las vértebras – son especialmente graves.

Vertebral fractures can cause severe back pain, and which can also lead to spinal deformity, as it weakens and has difficulty bearing weight.

With this disease you can notice that the upper part of the back begins to curve. Osteoporosis can also cause the patient to shorten in height because the bones are not as strong..

Progressive reduction in height with age is a sign of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is more common in older people, but it can occur in younger people too.

Women, especially post-menopausal women, are the most susceptible to developing osteoporosis, but that doesn't mean men can't develop it, too.

It is estimated that the 80 % of the 10 millones de estadounidenses con osteoporosis son mujeres – lo que significa que 2 millions of men also living with osteoporosis.

In Spain this disease affects the 35% of women older than 50 years and the figures rise with age.

The amazing thing about osteoporosis is that it is preventable. If you are at risk of developing osteoporosis (you can take a test to find out if you are at risk), there are lifestyle choices and changes you can make to keep your bones strong and healthy through the years. Check your diet and make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D.

It is also important to exercise regularly with weight bearing if your condition allows it and strengthening exercises. Other lifestyle options, such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption, They can also damage your bones more than you think.

Index

What is osteoporosis?

Our bones are the structure that supports our entire body.. These bones are constantly regenerating themselves by absorbing old bone and replacing it with new bone..

On people from the 30 years, the body begins to lose more bone than it forms, as a result the bones weaken. The composition of the bones changes to such an extent that they become progressively weaker and more brittle..

When these mild or moderate changes occur, doctors determine that the person has osteopenia, but once significant bone loss occurs, doctors determine that this condition is osteoporosis. And while it is true that the progressive changes of this condition cause painful symptoms, It is a fact that the risk of bone fractures is increased.

Who is at risk for osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is associated with a considerable number of risk factors, some of which can be controlled, while others don't. Risk factors for osteoporosis that cannot be controlled include:

For his part, risk factors for osteoporosis that if they can be controlled, include the following:

Anatomy of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that causes your bones to weaken. To better understand osteoporosis and how it affects the spine, it is very useful to know the anatomy of the spine and what the bones are made of.

types of bone tissue

There are two types of bone tissue in the body. The cortical bone is the hard outer shell of a bone. The trabecular bone (also called fluffy) is the honeycomb-shaped bone in the center of the long bones and in the middle of the vertebrae.

Bone is not dead tissue. Both types of bone are alive and in a continuous state of degradation and regeneration by the body.. This cycle of construction and deconstruction keeps bones strong..

But in osteoporosis, balance is lost in this cycle. The body acts slowly, wearing down bone faster than it can regenerate.

The trabecular bone is more active, and divides and regenerates more rapidly than cortical bone. Because of this, Trabecular bone is more likely to be affected when bone wear and regeneration are out of balance in osteoporosis..

Bone growth and peak bone mass

Bone size grows during childhood and adolescence. During that time, your body makes more bone than it loses. Sometime, you will be in your maximum bone mass density, o DMOM; that's the most bone you'll ever have. for most people, this comes when they are between the ages of 18 and 25 years.

After you reach your peak bone mass, BMD either remains constant (with a balanced rest down and bone regeneration), or starts to slowly decline if these two stocks are out of balance.

The more bone mass a person accumulates as they grow, the less likely it is that you will suffer from osteoporosis. This is why proper nutritional intake calcium, phosphor, magnesium, and other minerals, as well as vitamin D, are so important during childhood and adolescence. Good nutrition and exercise are what build and help maintain strong bones..

Basic Spinal Anatomy

The spinal column is made up of individual bones called vertebrae. There are 24 spinal vertebrae, plus sacrum and coccyx (coccyx).

Most adults have seven vertebrae in their neck. (cervical vertebrae), twelve vertebrae from the shoulders to the waist (thoracic vertebrae), and five vertebrae in the lower back (lumbar vertebrae).

The sacrum is made up of five vertebrae between the hip bones that are fused into a single bone. The coccyx is made up of small fused bones at the end of the spinal column..

Because vertebrae of the spine son trabecular bones mainly, are more likely to be weakened by osteoporosis. Standing up straight puts a lot of pressure on the vertebrae, which means that the weak ones can fracture and start to compress or collapse. If a vertebra is fractured, it adds stress on other vertebrae and puts them at higher risk of fracture.

Symptoms of osteoporosis

La osteoporosis es a veces llamada “la enfermedad silenciosa” y con mucha razón. Early in the disease there may be no symptoms. Many patients only begin to suspect that something is wrong when there is dull bone or muscle pain developing in the lower back or neck..

as time goes by, acute pain can develop suddenly and last for several months. How osteoporosis progressively robs bone density, the risk of fracture increases. The dolls, the hips and spine are the most common sites of fracture.

If left undiagnosed and untreated, osteoporosis can predispose to sudden and painful compression fractures of the spine. Such fractures can result in an overall loss of height.. Those compression fractures of the spine can also cause the upper spine to curve forward. This forward curve is called cifosis.

A very severe forward curve is called hyperkyphosis. In severe cases of spinal osteoporosis, the nervous system is affected and numbness may be experienced, tingling or weakness. If you have severe kyphosis, you may also experience difficulty walking and problems with balance, which means you have a higher risk of falls and other bone fractures, like the hips.

If you have passed the menopause, undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or you have Back pain undiagnosed chronic, make an appointment to see your doctor. Early treatment is essential for prevention of osteoporosis-related fractures.

Osteoporosis is not just a women's disease. Men can also develop this metabolic bone disease.

Let's see the most common symptoms of the silent disease

Fracture

It is one of the most common symptoms of frailty caused by osteoporosis.. These fractures can occur as a result of a fall., a minor move, even fractures can be caused by a strong sneeze or cough.

back or neck pain

Osteoporosis can also lead to compression fractures of the spine.. They can be very painful because the vertebrae collapse and "pinch" the nerves. Pain symptoms may be mild or the pain may even be debilitating.

and affect both women and men equally

This is also another symptom of osteoporosis which is also due to compression fractures of the spine.. In fact, this is one of the most noticeable symptoms of osteoporosis.

stooped posture

This compression of the vertebrae can also cause a slight curvature in the upper back., leading to what is known as a hunched back or technically kyphosis.

This condition can cause back and neck pain., it can even have a negative impact on the person's breathing due to the pressure placed on the airways.

Causes of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis can have several causes, some of them are hereditary and some come from lifestyle. Some of the causes of osteoporosis that cannot be controlled are:

Family background: If someone in your family has or has had osteoporosis, there is greater risk.

Sex: Women are simply more likely to develop osteoporosis.

Raza: Caucasians and Asians are more likely to be affected by osteoporosis than blacks or Hispanics, but this does not mean that blacks or Hispanics are not at risk.

Causes that can be controlled a little, but they can also be out of your control

estrogen levels: Estrogen protects bones, so if you have low estrogen levels, you are more at risk of developing osteoporosis.

Menopause causes a rapid decline in estrogen levels, so if you are a woman post- menopausal, you have to watch your bone health.

Women can experience bone loss at a rate of 4-8 % yearly for several years after your ovaries stop making estrogen.

What's more, if the ovaries have been removed, the risk of osteoporosis is increased because the ovaries produce a large amount of estrogen. This is usually treated with hormone replacement therapy..

Even if you are a young woman now, years after menopause, you should think about your estrogen levels. Irregular periods can indicate low estrogen levels and serve as an early warning to take care of your bones.

Irregular periods can also be the result of too much exercise or poor nutrition., which can increase bone loss.

Men also have a hormone that protects the bones, but in this case it's testosterone. In summary if there are low levels of sex hormones, are at higher risk.

history of broken bones: If you have had fractures in the past, you could be at higher risk of osteoporosis because the broken bone probably reduced your bone mineral density (DMO).

low body weight: Small boned men and women (less than 60 while the main function of the cervical spine is to support the weight of the head, which is approximately) they have less bone mass to begin with, so they should be especially vigilant about their bone health.

Causes we can control

Osteoporosis is also caused by factors that are completely under your control, and this is what can be done to prevent it. When thinking about the health of your bones, you must consider:

Diet: Every day, you should consume adequate amounts of various minerals and vitamins that promote bone growth. What you eat can have a significant impact on the likelihood of developing osteoporosis. Some foods promote bone growth, while others can atrophy it.

Football: Calcium gives your bones what they need to grow and regenerate. If you don't get enough calcium every day, your bones will be weaker. The amount of calcium you need varies depending on how old you are.

Vitamin D: Calcium needs vitamin D; without this, your body cannot absorb and use calcium effectively. Not enough vitamin D in your diet, a part of your calcium intake would be wasted, which negatively affects the bones. As with calcium, there are recommended changes in vitamin D intake throughout life.

Other vitamins and minerals: The match, magnesium, vitamin K, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 are also important for bone growth. Fortunately, a well-balanced diet almost guarantees that you'll be getting enough of these. If you are not consuming enough and want to have good bone health, you may need to take a supplement.

Improve diet and thus strengthen bones

Unfortunately, everyone who had a poor diet in growth, either because of poverty or poor eating habits, may not have received enough calcium and other minerals to build strong bones.

Sometimes, having too much of something in your diet can damage your bones. (everything in moderation, this is a life lesson) You should control your consumption:

proteins: either ischemic or “Jones'”, you should get the right amount of protein; Nevertheless, too much protein can cause you to lose calcium.

Caffeine: limit your caffeine intake, too much limits the way your body absorbs calcium.

Exercise: A good exercise routine will strengthen your bones, and you should have a combination of aerobic exercises (for instance, walk) and strengthening exercises (for instance, Weightlifting). Nevertheless, if you don't exercise, your bones become weaker and osteoporosis can develop.

Smoke: Smoking can increase your chances of getting osteoporosis. The chemicals it contains make it more difficult for your body to use calcium., plus they make it harder for estrogen to do its job and protect your bones.

Alcohol: Alcohol abuse can reduce calcium supply and the efficiency with which the body uses calcium.

Treatment for osteoporosis

Once the appropriate clinical history has been obtained, with physical exams and diagnostic tests, that confirm osteoporosis, treatment is warranted.

Osteoporosis treatment typically includes diet/nutrition education, the exercise (if there are no fractures) and medications. The goal of osteoporosis treatment is to prevent fractures..

First, education regarding adequate vitamin D and calcium intake, in addition to nutrition in general, it is necessary.

In this case, exercise and fitness is also important to help maintain bone density and reduce the risk of falls. Many of the basic treatment measures are the prevention measures mentioned above.

There are a number of medications to treat osteoporosis that help reduce the risk of fractures. Usually, these medicines work by helping to strengthen bones and prevent bone loss.

Drugs currently approved by the FDA for the prevention and/or treatment of osteoporosis are:

When to see the doctor?

Symptoms of osteoporosis can cause pain and discomfort, but in most cases they do not require going to the emergency room.

Nevertheless, if the person is experiencing debilitating pain, particularly in the back, Things you may not know about the spine, wrist or hip, you should see a doctor immediately as you may have a bone fracture that requires treatment.

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