Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, often also known as a silent disease, is a condition that weakens one's bone over time. This therefore makes the bones fragile and more likely to fracture. Developing without any symptoms, people often don’t realize they have it until they experience a bone fracture or a minor fall. 

Understanding Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is when your bones get weaker and break more easily. The loss of bone density and its inability to rebuild it is what leads to this disease. Normally, bones stay strong because bone formation outpaces bone breakdown. But with osteoporosis, this balance gets messed up, causing bones to become less dense and more fragile.

Due to that bones become less dense and weaker, this can cause injuries from things as minor as a cough or bending down to get something. The most common fracture sites are the hip, spine, and wrist, which can significantly impact mobility and overall quality of life. Due to that it is essential to go for regular bone check-ups and get detected early. 

Symptoms of Osteoporosis

Here are some common signs of osteoporosis: 

• Frequent fractures (hip, spine, wrist)
• Back pain
• Loss of height
• Stooped posture
• Weak and brittle bones

Causes and Risk Factors

What Causes Osteoporosis

Aging and natural loss of bone density are some common causes for osteoporosis. Additionally, hormonal changes like estrogen and testosterone decline can also be a cause. Calcium and Vitamin D deficiency have also been found to cause osteoporosis. It is important to lead a healthy lifestyle as an unhealthy one can bring forward multiple diseases and issues including osteoporosis. Lastly, medical conditions like thyroid issues, corticosteroids have been linked to osteoporosis as well. 

Who Is at Risk

Women over 50 (postmenopausal) and Men over 70 are at higher risk of developing osteoporosis. Other than that those with low body weights or those lacking nutrients can also develop osteoporosis. Additionally, genetics and family history also comes into play and can be a cause. 

Diagnosis and Treatment

How Osteoporosis Is Diagnosed

There are several ways to diagnose osteoporosis. Bone Density scan or DXA scan is an image test that measures the minerals density to determine the strength of the bone. Blood and urine tests can also be used to help identify the lack of calcium and vitamin D in the body. Another way to diagnose osteoporosis is through fracture risk assessment, a way to assess your likelihood of breaking a bone based on your lifestyle, medical history, density results and age. 

Treatment Options

Non-Medication Approaches

There are a couple of ways to tackle osteoporosis without the use of medication. One of those methods is changing your lifestyle and habits. Quit smoking, control your alcohol intake, exercise regularly and lead a healthy diet; all these can contribute to treating osteoporosis. 

Medications 

The following are medicinal approaches in treating osteoporosis:

• Bisphosphonates: Medications that slow down bone loss and help maintain bone density.
• Hormone therapy for women: Replaces declining estrogen levels after menopause to protect against bone thinning.
• Bone-building drugs for severe cases: Stimulate new bone formation and are used for patients with advanced osteoporosis.

Why Choose Vibhavadi Hospital

Vibhavadi Hospital has a team of professional bone doctors and facilities that can help patients with bone issues like osteoporosis. Additionally, doctors provide treatments that are tailored to each individual's diagnosis. Long term treatment like recovery and prevention methods can also be treated by the professionals at Vibhavadi Hospital.