What is Osteoporosis?

People with Osteoporosis know the real pain as it develops slowly, and the individual does not even get to know about this problem until they have a fracture or a fall. Sounds really scary, isn't it? Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones start to become weak and brittle- in fact, your bones will become so weak that even a mild fall or stress like bending can cause a fracture.

The worst part is that the problem increases without the person having much pain, and he can discover this problem only when the bone actually gets fractured.

Osteoporosis Symptoms

Although it is difficult to make out if you have Osteoporosis in the early stages. There are a few symptoms that have been observed -

• Inactive gums
• Leaning posture
• Your grip strength starts to weaken
• If it increases, you might see a loss of height over time
• You will observe that your nails have also become weak and brittle
• Bones break much more easily

There is an important thing that you should know, if you have a family history of Osteoporosis, it is recommended to speak to your doctor and take their advice.

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Risks involved with Osteoporosis

There are a few factors that cannot be changed when we talk about this problem.

Some of the factors are -

Sex- It has been observed that women are much more prone to conceive Osteoporosis as compared to men. You will be amazed to know that women are four times more likely to acquire this problem than men.

Age- As your age increases, the risk of acquiring this disease increases. According to recent data, after 50, one in two women and one in four men are prone to have an Osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime.

Race- If you are white or of Asian descent, the chances of having Osteoporosis increase.

Family history- As mentioned above, if your parent or sibling has Osteoporosis, then the risk of you having this disease increases tremendously.

Body frame size- People with small body frames have more chances of having Osteoporosis because they have less bone mass to draw as they become old.

Medical conditions- If you have an overactive thyroid, inflammatory bowel disease, history of bariatric surgery, blood diseases, or an organ transplant, the risk of osteoporosis increases.

Steps to Prevent Osteoporosis

To conclude, here are a few steps that you can take to prevent the risk of having Osteoporosis -

1. It is essential for you to stay physically active. You can do this by exercising for 20 minutes a day or by going for a walk.
2. Do not consume too much alcohol.
3. Stop smoking
4. People who already have Osteoporosis should take medications to prevent fractures.
5. Eat a healthy and nutritious diet and include Vitamin D and calcium in your diet to maintain good bone health.

FAQs on Osteoporosis

Q1. How is Osteoporosis diagnosed?

The x-rays called bone mineral density and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry are done to diagnose Osteoporosis.

Q2. What are the diet factors that can cause Osteoporosis?

People who have less calcium intake, have eating disorders, and have gone through gastrointestinal surgery are more likely to have Osteoporosis.

Q3. Who treats Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is treated by Endocrinologists, Geriatricians, Gynecologists, Orthopaedists, and Physiatrists.

Q4. What are the medications that are usually taken for the treatment of Osteoporosis?

You should always consult the doctor before taking any medication, but usually, the doctors refer to alendronate, ibandronate, risedronate, and zoledronic acid for treating Osteoporosis.