Osteoporosis

Preventing pelvis or hip joint from brittleness…

Osteoporosis occurs when disintegration of bone cells takes place more quickly than the formation of new ones. This bone loss does not lead to any symptoms for a long time, and is only noticed when some kind of fracture happens. The pelvic girdle forms a stable base where the upper and lower body meet and the most powerful muscle groups and the strongest bones are located.

- Bone substance is built and destroyed during lifetime. Two-third of our bones are composed of mineral salts, calcium being most important. It is integrated in the bone tissue with the help of Vitamin D which is obtained through sunlight and some foods. Bone mass constantly increases until the age of 35. Later, it reduces by about 1.5 percent per year. Bone substance is disintegrated when parathyroid hormone prompts the osteoclasts to remove calcium from bones and release it in blood. Oestrogen in women and testosterone in men play an important role in the metabolism of bones.
- Hormone deficiencies, diet, hyperthyroidism, lack of exercise, and taking medication containing cortisone over a long period of time can harm the bones.
- Bone densitometry is done to diagnose osteoporosis. The radiologist determines the mineral content in the thigh bone or lumbar spine in grams per cubic centimeter. The treatment is primarily with calcium and vitamin D tablets and the administration of calcitonin and sodium fluoride. Earlier, hormone replacement therapy for oestrogen was recommended for women during menopause but recently this method was not in practice as it increases the risk of breast cancer.
- Strategies for preventing osteoporosis include plenty of sunshine and fresh air to boost body’s vitamin D and avoiding alcohol, nicotine and caffeine to prevent calcium depletion.
- A balanced diet rich in calcium and muscle training are recommended.

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How can healthy lifestyle changes affect Osteoporosis?

What is Osteoporosis ?
Osteoporosis is a disease caused by weak and porous bones that fracture easily. It happens mainly after menopause in women and particularly those who are small boned or underweight. Bone mass is dependent on the stress, or weight, placed on bones. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks.The more you use your bones to walk, run, lift weights, the heavier and stronger your bones will be.

Healthy Lifestyle
The best way to keep your bones healthy is to establish a healthy lifestyle. One should stop smoking, avoid drinking too much alcohol, get enough calcium and vitamin D through your diet or with supplements, do weight-bearing exercises to help keep bones strong, avoid high doses of thyroid hormone or cortisone-like medications.

- Exercise is very important for slowing the progression of osteoporosis. Exercising for more than three days a week for more than a total of 90 minutes a week reduces the risk for osteoporosis and fracture in both older men and women.
Careful weight training exercise applies tension to muscle and bone.
Regular brisk long walks improve bone density and mobility and may relieve osteoarthritic pain.
Exercises specifically targeted to strengthen the back help prevent fractures later on in life.
Abdominal exercises, lower back exercises, yoga, Pilates, and tai chi help strengthen the spine.

- A combination of calcium and vitamin D can reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Good dietary sources of calcium include milk, yogurt, and other dairy products, dark green vegetables such as collard greens, kale, and broccoli, sardines and salmon with bones, calcium-fortified foods and beverages such as cereals, orange juice, soymilk.
Dietary sources of vitamin D include fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna, egg yolks, liver, vitamin D-fortified milk, orange juice, soymilk, or cereals. Sunlight on your skin activates the production of vitamin D in your body.

- Smoking and excessive use of alcohol reduce calcium absorption which can lead to bone loss. This is especially true for women who smoke, as smoking lowers estrogen levels.
Giving up these two unhealthy habits is a simple lifestyle change that can lower the chance of getting osteoporosis.

How can we prevent and diagnose Osteoporosis

To reach optimal peak bone mass and continue building new bone tissue as you age, you should consider several factors.
- Calcium: An inadequate supply of calcium over a lifetime contributes to the development of osteoporosis. Food sources of calcium include low-fat dairy products, such as milk, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream; dark green, leafy vegetables, such as broccoli, collard greens, bok choy, and spinach; sardines and salmon with bones; tofu; almonds; and foods fortified with calcium, such as orange juice, cereals, and breads.
- Vitamin D: Vitamin D plays an important role in calcium absorption and bone health. It is synthesized in the skin through exposure to sunlight. Food sources of vitamin D include egg yolks, saltwater fish, and liver.
- Smoking: Women who smoke have lower levels of estrogen compared with nonsmokers, and they often go through menopause earlier. Smokers also may absorb less calcium from their diets.
- Exercise: Like muscle, bone is living tissue that responds to exercise by becoming stronger. Weight-bearing exercise is the best for your bones because it forces you to work against gravity.
- Alcohol: Regular consumption of 2 to 3 ounces a day of alcohol may be damaging to the skeleton, even in young women and men.
- Medications that cause bone loss: The long-term use of glucocorticoids (medications prescribed for a wide range of diseases, including arthritis, asthma, Crohn’s disease, lupus, and other diseases of the lungs, kidneys, and liver) can lead to a loss of bone density and fracture.

Diagnosis of Osteoporosis

Women who have had a fracture due to fragility are diagnosed with severe osteoporosis and have a high risk for another fracture. Early diagnosis can prevent fractures and slow deterioration of bone tissue.
If the doctor suspects osteoporosis, a bone scan would be suggested. – A common test that measures bone density is called a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). This test measures the density of the bones in your hips, spine and wrist, which are all places likely to be affected by osteoporosis.
- Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) measures bone density in the hip and spine and produces a three-dimensional image that shows true volume density. QCT has the capacity to isolate an area for testing. The radiation level in QCT is 10 times higher than in DEXA.
- Peripheral bone density testing uses ultrasound to identify bone loss in a localized area such as the heel or hand.
Doctor may also order an ultrasound or a computerized tomography (CT) scan to help check the density of your bones.