Osteoporosis Case

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder and one of the most common types of bone disease which makes the body weak and fragile from the bones which causes an increase risk of fractures. It can occur at any age, but the chances of developing the disease will increases with age.

As found in a few articles, women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men. The bone density loss from osteoporosis is a major cause of disability and death in the elderly, mostly due to subsequent fractures. The lifetime risk of spinal fracture in women is about one in three, and that for hip fracture is one in six. Women at highest risk for fractures are those with low bone density plus a history of fractures, particularly nonviolent fractures.

How does osteoporosis develop? It starts off with the human bone that is formed by the action of specific cells called osteoblasts. These cells continually lay down fibrous bands that provide binding sites for complex calcium compounds. These form a system of rods and plates that make up the structure of bone. Another set of specific cells, called osteoclasts, continually remove older deposits, encouraging newer bone formation and maximizing the strength of the bone. Even though the human bone is continually developing; the formation of new bone goes on at the same time with breakdown of old bone. The control of this process is complex, involving several hormones, mainly physical activity and nutrition. In younger people, mainly teenagers that are under the control of growth hormone and sex hormones, can take new bone that is laid down faster than it is when breaking down, leading to overall increase in size and density of the bones in the body. After the age of 20, there is generally a balance between old bone break down and new bone formation. And after the age of 50 or with the onset of menopause in women, old bone breakdown overtakes new bone formation with a tendency towards decreased bone density. The drop in sex hormone activity with age also leads to reduced vitamin D and calcium absorption in the intestines with an increase in excretion of calcium in the kidneys. The loss of calcium leads to the release of the parathyroid hormone, which encourages the release of calcium from bony stores by the breakdown of bone. Decreased bone density weakens the bones, making them more porous and unfit for the weight bearing and postural functions they were meant for. Due to all this, it is more frequently that pathological fractures usually will occur in the wrists, hips, or spine which will then announce the presence and beginning of osteoporosis.

Now when osteoporosis happens, there are two types: Primary and Secondary. Primary osteoporosis is usually age related and results from the normal reduction of activity of the bone forming osteoblasts or the reduction of the enhancing effects of the sex hormones with age. Calcium and vitamin D deficient diet, genetic predisposition and a lifestyle of reduced physical activity and smoking all increase the development of this type of osteoporosis. Secondary osteoporosis is seen in certain conditions that promote resorption of bone or actively stop new bone formation. Endocrine diseases with hormonal imbalances, drugs like steroids and antiepileptics, genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis, paralytic illnesses, gastro-intestinal diseases and surgical resection involving the intestines and alcoholism are among the conditions that lead to secondary osteoporosis.

Many people confuse osteoporosis with arthritis and mistakenly believe it is safe to wait for symptoms such as swelling and joint pain to occur before seeing a doctor. However, arthritis is entirely different from osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is quite advanced before symptoms appear. All too often, osteoporosis becomes apparent in dramatic fashion: A fracture of a backbone, hip, forearm, or any bony site if sufficient bone mass is lost. These fractures frequently occur after apparently minor trauma, such as bending over, lifting, jumping, or falling