Osteoporosis - Overview
This condition results from the loss of bone minerals from the skeleton of the body. It is more common in women than men and is a particular problem in women after the menopause when the protective effect from oestrogen, in respect of an individual's bone mineral content, stops. Once this occurs the calcium from the bones are lost. The critical areas where loss of calcium is important are in the thoracic and lumbar spine, the hips, wrists and shoulders. The gradual loss of calcium can be silent and results in increasing forward curvature of the spine causing a 'dowager's hump and shortening of stature that is frequently seen in the elderly. Bones affected by osteoporosis are therefore more vulnerable in the elderly (especially women) to falls. This accounts for the epidemic of hip, wrist and shoulder fractures that occur increasingly with the continued increase in the elderly population. Treatment is also difficult as metal pins and screws allow poor fixation to osteoporotic bone. Osteoporosis can be prevented (to a certain extent) by starting off with a balanced diet that contains adequate calcium, non-smoking and a lifestyle that includes sufficient physical exercise. Once established osteoporosis can only be stopped in the sense that the loss of calcium from the bone is prevented by medication ( bisphosphonates ). Increasing the dietary uptake of calcium, given with vitamin D does not prevent the loss of calcium significantly.
