Understanding Osteoporosis: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

What is it?

Osteoporosis is a disease in which the bones are weak and prone to break more easily. The bones of the body are living tissue, which constantly breaks and rebuilt. In osteoporosis, the rate of bone building is too slow relative to destruction, and the quality of the bone being built is low. In this situation, force exerted on the bone, even if minimal (e.g. bending or coughing) can cause its fracture.
Osteoporosis is more common in old age, especially in postmenopausal women because of the hormonal changes that characterize this stage. Other possible causes are steroid use, vitamin D and calcium deficiency, hormonal and endocrinological disorders, and more.
In old age, osteoporotic fractures can cause a significant decrease in quality of life and even significant disability. There are currently a variety of effective treatments for osteoporosis.

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Additional names

This group contains additional names:
- Disuse Osteoporosis
- Senile Osteoporosis
- Age related osteoporosis
- Postmenopausal osteoporosis
- Idiopathic Osteoporosis

Signs & symptoms

In the early stages of osteoporosis there are no symptoms. The first sign will usually be a fracture caused relatively easily - for example after a slight stumble. Fractures usually occur in the bones of the spine, hips and wrists and can manifest in back pain, limp, loss of height and bent position.

Diagnosis

investigation of suspected osteoporosis requires examination by a physician. The diagnosis is made by a special test called bone density (DXA test).

Treatment

Treatment of osteoporosis consists of a combination of a change in habits and lifestyle along with taking medication:
- Adequate consumption of calcium and vitamin D, necessary for bones strength. Possible sources are dairy products, green vegetables, fish, soy products and, if necessary, specific dietary supplements.
- Exercise - Creating a controlled load on the bones is essential for maintaining their strength. The recommendation is to perform light exercise of at least 30 minutes daily.
- Avoidance of falling - it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes with a rough sole, move aside slippery carpets, and use aids, such as a cane, in case there is instability when walking.
- Vision test - Treatment of poor eyesight can also prevent falls.
- Medication - There is a wide range of drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis. The most common drugs are called bisphosphonates.

☝️ This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision.

Learn more about our editorial process for content accuracy.

Source of Information - We analyze big data of more than 23 million patients de-identified medical records from the following sources:

National Institution of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ University of Illinois hospital