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Osteoporosis: Symptoms and Causes
Our bone is a living tissue that undergoes a cycle of breaking down and getting replaced with a new one. Osteoporosis is a condition in which the formation of new bone fails to keep up with old bone loss.
In osteoporosis, the bone becomes fragile. In some cases, it becomes so delicate that a fall or stress like bending or coughing leads to its breaking. Such breaks occur mainly in the spine, hip, and wrist.
Both men and women of all races can have osteoporosis. But especially white and Asian women post menopause are at high risk.
Symptoms of osteoporosis
When osteoporosis is in its early stage, it shows no symptoms, but when a bone becomes very weak, it starts showing signs such as:
– Back pain because of the weakened bone of the spine
– Reduced height over time
– A curved posture
– Bone breaking down easier than expected
What causes osteoporosis?
There are few known causes of osteoporosis, but experts believe that a blend of reasons causes bone loss. Here are some of them:
Low Estrogen Levels in Women
Estrogen deficiency is one of the major causes of osteoporosis in women. Post menopause, loss of bone accelerates because of a drop in the estrogen level. As time passes, the risk of developing osteoporosis and bone breaking increases as more bone is lost than replaced.
Low Testosterone Level in Men
Men require both testosterone and estrogen for healthy bone because they convert testosterone to bone-conserving estrogen. This is the obvious reason to evaluate testosterone deficiency in men while assessing them for osteoporosis.
Other Hormonal Imbalances
Certain other hormones have an important role in the regulation of bone density, such as parathyroid hormone and growth hormones. They assist in orchestrating how your bones are making use of calcium and also when to build and break them. In case there is excess parathyroid hormone, a condition called hyperparathyroidism, it leads to loss of calcium through urine at the expense of bone. When there is less amount of calcium, it causes weak bones. When you start aging, your body will produce less amount of growth hormone, which you require for building strong bones.
Calcium Deficiency
Bones mainly preserve two important minerals, and they are phosphorus and calcium. You require a consistent level of calcium in the blood as several organs and muscles, rely on calcium. When such organs need calcium, they will take it from the mineral storehouse present in your bones. With time, when these minerals start depleting in your bones, you will end up with fragile and thin bones.
Inactive Lifestyle
Bones start weakening when they are not functioning properly. Therefore, people who maintain a very inactive lifestyle or suffer from conditions such as paralysis experience loss of bone faster. You can certainly avoid this cause of osteoporosis with weight-bearing exercises, which will put stress on your bones and help remodel them.
Thyroid Conditions
Elevated levels of thyroid hormones enhance loss of bone, and it is one of the major concerns of physicians. People on high doses of thyroid pills are at major risk of having bone fractures. They have to exercise on a regular basis and consume calcium and vitamin D to avoid bone loss. Such lifestyle modifications help in managing overall fracture risk.
Conclusion
Osteoporosis can lead to some serious conditions, such as fractures, which are very painful, need a long healing time, and cause other complications such as severe back pain, upper back hunch, etc. But there are a lot of things you can do to prevent and treat osteoporosis, right from having proper diet to exercising and taking the medications.
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