Osteoporosis is more common in women

Osteoporosis:

Osteoporosis is a bone tissue disease which weakens the bones and may cause unexpected break ups. This chronic disease may affect every person of any age, but in most cases it starts appearing for 40-50 years old women. Unfortunately, osteoporosis has no obvious symptoms and its first signs can be noticed only after the injury. Osteoporosis is divided into primary (this appears in older age) and secondary osteoporosis which is initiated by various diseases, like hyperthyroidism (too active thyroid), hyperparathyroidism (too active parathyroid glands), chronic pain in joints, kidneys, lungs, bowel disease, multiple myeloma, certain hereditary diseases or drugs. The primary osteoporosis affects both sexes, but women suffer from it 5-6 times. The most rapid bone tissue loss in women begins together with menopause because it caused by hormonal changes.

Osteoporosis risk factors are:

• You are older than 50 years old. (may be 40 years aslo in few cases.)
• You are female.
• Your family history shows osteoporosis cases.
• You are thin and don’t weight much.
• You suffer from menopause.
• You have ovaries removed.
• You are physically inactive, have spent long-term in bed because of variety of chronic diseases.
• Your diet doesn’t guarantee enough calcium or vitamin D.
• You consume much alcohol and cigarettes.
• You have chronic health problems (hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, some stomach surgery, etc.).
• You use drugs that may have side effects.

According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, people trying to avoid osteoporosis should exercise regularly (weight lifting exercises are especially recommended because they help to strengthen muscles while increasing bone density) and eat balanced, rich in calcium and vitamin D foods. In order to avoid osteoporosis, doctors also recommend using calcium supplements. Recommended dose of calcium per day for people younger than 50 years old - 800-1000 mg, over 40-50 years - 1000-1200 mg, pregnant women - 1200-1500 mg. Make sure that you use organic compounds, like lactate and citrate – they can be best absorbed by our body. (More >>)


Osteoporosis Overview: >>>
Osteoporosis Causes: >>>
Osteoporosis Symptoms: >>>
Osteoporosis Medical Treatment: >>> 


 

Osteoporosis Overview

Osteoporosis Overview:

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and loss of bone tissue that may lead to weak and fragile bones. If you have osteoporosis, you have an increased risk for fractured bones (broken bones), particularly in the hip, spine, and wrist.
Osteoporosis is often considered to be a condition that frail elderly women develop. However, the damage from osteoporosis begins much earlier in life. Because peak bone density is reached at approximately 25 years of age, it is important to build strong bones by that age, so that the bones will remain strong later in life. Adequate calcium intake is an essential part of building strong bones.
In the United States, nearly 10 million people already have osteoporosis. Another 18 million people have low bone mass that places them at an increased risk for developing osteoporosis. As our population ages, these numbers will increase. About 80% of those with osteoporosis are women. Of people older than 50 years of age, one in two women and one in eight men are predicted to have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime.
According to the World Health Organization, the prevalence of osteoporosis among U.S. white women past menopause is estimated to be 14% in those 50-59 years of age, 22% in those 60-69 years of age, 39% in those 70-79 years of age, and 70% in those 80 years of age and older. Significant risk has been reported in people of all ethnic backgrounds. White and Asian racial groups, however, are at greatest risk.

more about Osteoporosis

more about Osteoporosis:

It may not be fair, but it’s true: If you're a woman, you're automatically at greater risk for osteoporosis than men. The International Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that osteoporosis affects about 200 million women worldwide.

Why the gender gap? Women start with lower bone density than their male peers and they lose bone mass more quickly as they age, which leads to osteoporosis in some women. Between the ages of 20 and 80, the average white woman loses one-third of her hip bone density, compared to a bone density loss of only one-fourth in men.

According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, osteoporosis statistics show a greater burden for women in the following ways:

    68 percent of the 44 million people at risk for osteoporosis are women.
    One of every two women over age 50 will likely have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime. That’s twice the rate of fractures in men — one in four.
    75 percent of all cases of hip osteoporosis affect women.

Building Better Bones

Osteoporosis may have its roots in childhood and adolescence, which is the period when your body does the most bone building. Women reach their peak bone mass at about age 18 while men reach theirs at 20. After that, both women and men continue to build small amounts of bone mass, but men add more than women. By 30, your bones are fully stocked, and although your body will continue to replace old bone cells, there will be no increase in bone mass past that point.

Osteoporosis and Estrogen

Add osteoporosis to the long list of health issues, like mood swings and migraines, that you can blame on your hormones. Although there are other possible genetic and environmental factors behind bone loss, your body's changing levels of estrogen remains the most culpable suspect.

Estrogen is a hormone that helps regulate a woman’s reproductive cycle. At the same time, it plays a role in keeping bones strong and healthy, in both men and women. While premenopausal women have more estrogen than men, they will experience dramatic drops in estrogen production due to menopause, and are more likely to experience bone loss and osteoporosis at that time.

Women are at increased osteoporosis risk related to estrogen levels if they:

    Experience irregular or infrequent periods, or began having their periods at a later than normal age Have had their ovaries removed (at any age)
    Are going through menopause, with those undergoing menopause at an early age having an even higher risk.

Women lose bone mass much more quickly in the years immediately after menopause than they do at any other time in their lives.

In contrast, data suggests that women who have more estrogen than their peers, such as women who began their menstrual cycles earlier than normal or who have used estrogen containing contraceptives, are likely to have higher bone density.

Osteoporosis: Underdiagnosed in Men

Because osteoporosis occurs more frequently in women than men, less attention is paid to bone health in men, and those who have osteoporosis may go undiagnosed and untreated. A study of 895 nursing home residents over age 50 revealed that doctors were less likely to consider osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment for men than women, even when the men had recently experienced a fracture, a widely recognized red flag for osteoporosis. The reality is that 80,000 men experience osteoporosis-related fractures every year, and close to 23,000 die as a result of fracture-related complications.

Bone loss is a normal part of aging in both men and women; by about age 75, men and women lose bone at the same rate and both genders are less able to absorb calcium. However, when men get osteoporosis, it is usually related to another health condition, a lifestyle choice (smoking or alcohol abuse), or medication that has bone loss as a side effect.

Osteoporosis risk is different for men and women, but the disease is dangerous for anyone who gets it. Talk to your doctor about getting an osteoporosis screening if you know you have risk factors.

Osteoporosis Causes

Osteoporosis Causes:

         Osteoporosis occurs when there is an imbalance between new bone formation and old bone resorption. The body may fail to form enough new bone, or too much old bone may be reabsorbed, or both. Two essential minerals for normal bone formation are calcium and phosphate. Throughout youth, the body uses these minerals to produce bones. Calcium is essential for proper functioning of the heart, brain, and other organs. To keep those critical organs functioning, the body reabsorbs calcium that is stored in the bones to maintain blood calcium levels. If calcium intake is not sufficient or if the body does not absorb enough calcium from the diet, bone production and bone tissue may suffer. Thus, the bones may become weaker, resulting in brittle and fragile bones that can break easily.
Usually, the loss of bone occurs over an extended period of years. Often, a person will sustain a fracture before becoming aware that the disease is present. By then, the disease may be in its advanced stages and damage may be serious.

The leading cause of osteoporosis is a lack of certain hormones, particularly estrogen in women and androgen in men. Women, especially those older than 60 years of age, are frequently diagnosed with the disease. Menopause is accompanied by lower estrogen levels and increases a woman's risk for osteoporosis. Other factors that may contribute to bone loss in this age group include inadequate intake of calcium and vitamin D, lack of weight-bearing exercise, and other age-related changes in endocrine functions (in addition to lack of estrogen).

Other conditions that may lead to osteoporosis include overuse of corticosteroids (Cushing syndrome), thyroid problems, lack of muscle use, bone cancer, certain genetic disorders, use of certain medications, and problems such as low calcium in the diet.

• The following are risk factors for osteoporosis:



• Women are at a greater risk than men, especially women who are thin or have a small frame, as are those of advanced age.



• Women who are white or Asian, especially those with a family member with osteoporosis, have a greater risk of developing osteoporosis than other women.



• Women who are postmenopausal, including those who have had early or surgically induced menopause, or abnormal or absence of menstrual periods are at greater risk.



• Cigarette smoking, eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia, low amounts of calcium in the diet, heavy alcohol consumption, inactive lifestyle, and use of certain medications, such as corticosteroids and anticonvulsants, are also risk factors.



• Rheumatoid arthritis itself is a risk factor for osteoporosis.



• Having a parent that has/had osteoporosis is a risk factor for the offspring.

Osteoporosis Medical Treatment

Osteoporosis Medical Treatment:

Treatment for osteoporosis focuses on slowing down or stopping the mineral loss, increasing bone density, preventing bone fractures, and controlling the pain associated with the disease.
Some 40% of women will experience a broken bone (fracture) due to osteoporosis during their lifetime. In those who have a vertebral fracture (in their back), one in five will suffer another vertebral fracture within one year. This condition potentially leads to more fractures. This is called a "fracture cascade." The goal of treatment is to prevent fractures.

• Diet: Young adults should be encouraged to achieve normal peak bone mass by getting enough calcium (1,000 mg daily) in their diet (drinking milk or calcium-fortified orange juice and eating foods high in calcium such as salmon), performing weight-bearing exercise such as walking or aerobics (swimming is aerobic but not weight-bearing), and maintaining normal body weight.



• Specialists: People who have spinal, hip, or wrist fractures should be referred to a bone specialist (called an orthopedic surgeon) for further management. In addition to fracture management, these people should also be referred to a physical and occupational therapist to learn ways to exercise safely. For example, someone with spinal fractures would avoid touching their toes, doing sit-ups, or lifting heavy weights. Many types of doctors treat osteoporosis, including internists, generalists, family physicians, rheumatologists, endocrinologists, and others.



• Exercise: Lifestyle modification should also be incorporated into your treatment. Regular exercise can reduce the likelihood of bone fractures associated with osteoporosis.



• Studies show that exercises requiring muscle to pull on bones causes the bones to retain, and perhaps even gain, density.



• Researchers found that women who walk a mile a day have four to seven more years of bone in reserve than women who don't.



• Some of the recommended exercises include weight-bearing exercise, riding stationary bicycles, using rowing machines, walking, and jogging.



• Before beginning any exercise program, make sure to review your plan with your doctor.

Osteoporosis Symptoms

Osteoporosis Symptoms:

Back pain

Neck pain

Early in the course of the disease, osteoporosis may cause no symptoms. Later, it may cause dull pain in the bones or muscles, particularly low back pain or neck pain.

Later in the course of the disease, sharp pains may come on suddenly. The pain may not radiate (spread to other areas); it may be made worse by activity that puts weight on the area, may be accompanied by tenderness, and generally begins to subside in one week. Pain may linger more than three months.

People with osteoporosis may not even recall a fall or other trauma that might cause a broken bone, such as in the spine or foot. Spinal compression fractures may result in loss of height with a stooped posture (called a dowager's hump).

Fractures at other sites, commonly the hip or bones of the wrist, usually result from a fall.

Osteoporosis Overview: >>>
Osteoporosis Causes: >>>
Osteoporosis More common in Women: >>>
Osteoporosis Medical Treatment: >>>