Osteoporosis: a silent challenge to bone health
Understanding Osteoporosis and Its Management
Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by a decrease in bone mass and density, increasing the risk of fractures. This disorder, often referred to as a “silent disease“, does not exhibit obvious symptoms until unexpected fractures occur, typically after a minor fall or a minor accident. Warning signs, such as height loss or changes in posture, are often difficult to perceive.
Bone Formation and Loss: A Delicate Balance
Bones, a living tissue in constant renewal, increase in mass during youth. Around the age of 30, this process slows down, and bone mass begins to decrease with age. The amount of bone mass achieved in youth, influenced by genetic and ethnic factors, partially determines the risk of developing osteoporosis in later life.
Risk Factors: Beyond Individual Control
Various factors can increase the risk of osteoporosis, including gender (women are more at risk), age, ethnicity (higher risk among Caucasians and Asians), family history, and body frame size. Other factors include hormonal imbalances, such as a reduction in sex hormones, thyroid issues, and disorders of the parathyroid and adrenal glands. Additionally, inadequate calcium intake, eating disorders, and some gastrointestinal surgeries can contribute to the development of osteoporosis.
Daily Life and Osteoporosis: Choices Matter
Sedentary lifestyles, excessive alcohol consumption, and tobacco use can increase the risk. Prolonged use of certain medications, such as oral or injected corticosteroids, and treatments for conditions like epilepsy, acid reflux, cancer, and transplant rejection, can interfere with the bone rebuilding process.
Complications: Not Just Fractures
Fractures, especially at the hip and spine, are the most serious complications of osteoporosis. Hip fractures can lead to disability and increase the risk of mortality in the year following the injury. In some cases, vertebrae can collapse even without falls, causing back pain, height loss, and a forward-curved posture.
Prevention: Nutrition, Exercise, and Lifestyle
Proper nutrition and regular physical exercise are essential for maintaining healthy bones. Intake of calcium and vitamin D, through diet or supplements, and physical activity that promotes bone building and muscle strengthening, are recommended. Activities such as walking, running, jumping, dancing, and weightlifting are particularly helpful.
Vigilance and Ongoing Care
Managing osteoporosis requires a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. It is important to regularly consult a healthcare provider to monitor bone density and adjust treatments as needed.
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