What is Osteoporosis and How is it Treated?

Osteoporosis, sometimes known as ‘brittle bone disease’, is a common condition that makes the bones in the human body become weaker, and more liable to fracturing or breaking. It threatens some 28 million people in the United States, and is a contributing factor in 1 and a half million bone fractures each year.

Those most at risk of developing osteoporosis are people over 65, especially women. In fact, anywhere from one third to one half of women past the age of 65 may be affected by it. With men over 65, the rate is around one in five developing osteoporosis. While the older one becomes, the greater one is at risk for it, it is not unknown to occur in younger individuals. The condition is technically defined as having a bone density below a certain level, and this is detected as a result of bone density tests.

In a healthy musculoskeletal system, old bone tissue is constantly being replaced with new bone tissue. As a person ages, this replacement of old bone with new tends to slow down, which can eventually lead to osteoporosis, when not enough tissue is replaced, and causing what bone is left to become stiffer and more fragile. After a certain point, the bone becomes so weakened that it will fracture much more easily in situations where a younger person’s bone would be far more resilient. The most serious and commonplace fracture of this type is a fracture in the hip bone, usually caused by falls around the house.

Although osteoporosis is largely a disease associated with age, the best key to its prevention starts with awareness during childhood and adolescence, in taking care to ensure that a diet with plenty of calcium is followed. This usually means drinking plenty of milk, especially while a teenager. Calcium is a substance found abundantly in milk and dairy products, and it is a mineral that is vital to the formation of healthy bones. The dairy products are also rich in vitamin D, which works with calcium to help the body absorb it properly, and is thus important for bone growth. Other foods that supply particularly large levels of calcium are yogurt, cheese, broccoli, and sardines. A diet deficient in calcium is known to be a major contributing factor among the causes of osteoporosis. Aside from calcium, a regular exercise program is also a way to maintain healthy bones.

While bone density lost due to osteoporosis cannot be replaced, some medications can be used to prevent or slow further loss and the accompanying increased risk of fractures. One category of medication, known as bisphosphonates, inhibits the cells responsible for removing old bone tissue. This can redress the imbalance caused when too much old bone is removed, more than the amount being replaced. Another treatment is calcitonin, which is a hormone naturally produced by the thyroid gland, that retains calcium in the bone. Ingesting additional calcitonin, usually through the nose, works similarly to bisphosphonates by inhibiting the cells that break down old bone tissue into calcium for the blood stream. A third procedure used with some female patients is the injection of estrogen; this has been shown to reduce fragility and slow bone loss, but can carry the risk of other complications. Finally, a new drug called Forteo is now being used, that can actually stimulate new bone growth and possibly even reverse some effects of osteoporosis. All treatments have associated side effects and risks, so careful consultation with an orthopedic specialist is crucial for patients who might consider dealing with their osteoporosis by any of these methods.

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