What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis, a condition which thins and weakens the bones, is a preventable and treatable disease that increases the risk of bone fractures. It is a disease that can go undetected for many years, and is fairly common, particularly among postmenopausal women. While it is possible for men to develop osteoporosis, an overwhelming majority of those who suffer from osteoporosis are women. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, approximately 10 million Americans suffer from osteoporosis, 8 million of which are women.

Women of all ages can be diagnosed with osteoporosis, though the age group that is most at risk is women who have gone through menopause. Additionally, another 34 million Americans are estimated to have low bone mass, which can lead to the development of osteoporosis.

Our bones are living tissues, made up of a bony matrix composed mostly of collagen and hydroxyapatite, which is a mineral compound of calcium and phosphate. The combination of these two components of bone makes them strong and durable, yet flexible enough to withstand stress forces.

Throughout our lives, cells in our bones are constantly remodeling this bony matrix. Cells known as osteoblasts work to lay down new bone, while cells known as osteoclasts work to degrade the old bone.

In a normal individual, this balance is kept in place, with only a slight decrease in bone density over our lives. With osteoporosis, however, this balance is lost, resulting in a thinned and fragile bone.

The areas of the body most affected by the loss of bone density associated with osteoporosis are the hips, spine and wrist. All bones in the body, however, can be affected. In 2005 alone, there were over 2 million reported fractures due to osteoporosis, with over a quarter of them being fractures of the vertebrae. In women with osteoporosis, these fractures are a significant risk.

So how do we treat osteoporosis? What are some steps to prevention? The National Osteoporosis Foundation offers these steps to prevention:

· Make sure you are getting the daily recommended values of vitamin D and calcium. These values are 1,000 mg for calcium and 5 mcg for vitamin D.

· Perform weight bearing and muscle-strengthening exercise on a regular basis.

· Avoid excessive alcohol and smoking, and these can effect the calcium in your body.

· Have a bone density exam performed, especially if you are female and postmenopausal.

· Talk to your health care provider about bone health, and any other concerns.

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Winter Haven, Fl. 33881
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