What is Osteoporosis ?
Osteoporosis is globally the most common metabolic bone disease.Osteo means bone and porous means pore. Osteoporosis means loss of bone density.
What are the types of Osteoporosis? Which type do I have?
Our bones are made up of outer dense cortical bone and inner less dense trabecular bone.Type 1 (early) osteoporosis is characterised by excessive loss of trabecular bone.Type 2 (senile) osteoporosis is characterised by loss of both trabecular and cortical bone which is usually an age related disease.Ask your doctor for the type of osteoporosis.
What are the symptoms of Osteoporosis?
Decrease in bone density is usually painless and is diagnosed mostly after patient has sustained a fracture. This is important as In view of lack of symptoms, you may presume you have no osteoporosis even when diagnosed by your physician.
What are the possible complications with Osteoporosis?
As long as our bone density is normal,our bones are resilient to low trauma fractures.If bone density decreases there is high risk of fractures even with a minor fall. Ask your doctor what are the chances of fracture?
What are the common sites of osteoporotic fractures?
Common sites include are hip,spine,wrist and ankle.
Why is Osteoporosis prevention important ?
- 50% of fractures in the world occur in Asia
- Beyond 50 years one in three females and one in five males sustain fractures due to osteoporosis.
- After sustaining an osteoporotic hip fracture 20-25% die within an year.
- A global survey brought out an interesting fact that number of days spent in hospital is more for osteoporosis and its complications in comparison to the much feared cancers and cardiac ailments.
Who are at risk for Osteoporosis ?
The following populations are at risk for developing osteoporosis and need to be aware about the screening and treatment options available.
- Elderly
- Post menopausal women
- Low Body Mass index (BMI)
- Addictions - smokers and chronic alcoholics
- Patients suffering from Rheumatological diseases like Rheumatoid arthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Psoriatic arthritis, Lupus and many more
- Use of steroids
- Chronic endocrine diseases like thyroid disorders, diabetes and hyperparathyroidism.
- Malabsorption like celian or Inflammatory Bowel Disease
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