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Diagnosis and Treatment of Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a kind of bone disease that arises when your body loses a lot of bone or makes little bone, or sometimes both. Because of this, bones weaken and may break down if you fall or put little pressure on them.
Osteoporosis is otherwise called porous bone. When you view a healthy bone under a microscope, it looks like a honeycomb, and when a bone is affected by osteoporosis, the holes and spaces become large compared to any healthy bone. Osteoporotic bones lose density and have an abnormal structure of tissue. When bones start becoming less dense, they will become weak and will break.
How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
There are no physical symptoms of osteoporosis, and it might not cause any kind of problems initially. But when your doctor considers that you might have osteoporosis, they will suggest doing a DEXA or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan to measure the bone density. In this scan, you need to lie on a couch for 15 minutes and your bones are x-rayed. It can show three results:
– Normal: Risk of getting fracture is low.
– Osteopenia: Your bone is weakening, and the risk of getting a fracture is small. You might or might not require treatment based on your other risk factors. It would help if you discussed with the doctor how to decrease the risk factors.
– Osteoporosis: You are at high risk of getting fractures, and you might require treatment. You need to discuss this with your doctor.
Who should do this scan?
Not everyone should do this scan, but it’s necessary to consult your doctor for having a scan if any of this applies to you:
– You have a low-impact fracture.
– You require steroid treatment for about three months or more.
– You got menopause early.
– One of the parents has a hip fracture.
– You suffer from any other condition that can affect your bone.
– Your body mass index is less than 19.
Treatment of osteoporosis
When you are diagnosed with osteoporosis after a low-impact fracture, it’s necessary to treat the fracture first. Next is starting treatment to decrease the risk of further fractures. Some of the common treatments for osteoporosis are the following:
Regular exercising
With regular exercise, your bones, along with the tissues that are in connection with them, such as muscles, ligaments, and tendons, become stronger. Your healthcare provider might suggest you to do some weight-bearing exercises for strengthening your muscles and for improving balance. Activities that train your body against gravity, such as walking, pilates, tai chi, and yoga, can help enhance balance and strength without putting any stress on bones. You should work with your physical therapist to decide on exercises and body movements that are best for you.
Supplements
Your doctor might prescribe supplements like calcium and vitamin D. It’s important to know which supplements you need, how often you should take them, and the dosage. This can help improve bone density reduce the risk of fracture.
Medications
When you are diagnosed with osteoporosis, your healthcare provider would prescribe you medications that will do best for your body. Some of the common medications are hormone therapies such as bisphosphonates and additional estrogen or testosterone. People who have serious osteoporosis or who are at risk of getting fractures may require medications such as parathyroid hormone, romosozumab, and denosumab. Such drugs are given as injections.
Conclusion
In osteoporosis, your bones become thin and weak, which is dangerous, as it increases the chances of getting fractures. The best is to prevent it or get diagnosed early before it starts hurting you. Go for regular health checkups and monitor your bone health.
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