Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that has the characteristics of low bone mass, accompanied by micro-architecture of bone and decrease the quality of bone tissue that can eventually lead to bone fragility.
Postmenopausal osteoporosis occurs because of lack of estrogen (the main hormone in women), who helped organize the transport of calcium into bone in women. Usually the symptoms occur in women aged between 51-75 years, but could start to appear faster or slower. Not all women have the same risk to suffer from osteoporosis postmenopausal, white women and eastern regions suffering from the disease more easily than black women.
Senile osteoporosis may be a result of calcium deficiency associated with age and the imbalance between the rate of bone destruction and new bone formation. Senilis means that this situation only occurs in the elderly. This disease usually occurs in over 70 years of age and 2 times more likely to strike women. Women often suffer from senile and postmenopausal osteoporosis.(read more)

Less than 5% of patients with osteoporosis also have secondary osteoporosis, which is caused by another medical condition or by drug-obatan.Penyakit this can be caused by chronic renal failure and hormonal disorders (especially thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal) and drugs (eg corticosteroids, barbiturates, anti-seizure and excessive thyroid hormone). Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking can aggravate this situation.
Idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis is a type of osteoporosis that the cause is unknown. This occurs in children and young adults who had higher levels and normal hormone function, normal levels of vitamins and has no obvious cause of bone fragility.
Bone density decreases slowly (especially in patients with senile osteoporosis), so that in the beginning of osteoporosis does not cause symptoms. Some patients have no symptoms.
If bone density is reduced so that the bones become collapsed or destroyed, it will arise bone pain and deformity.
Collapse of the spine cause chronic back pain. Fragile spine may experience collapse spontaneously or because of minor injuries. Usually the pain arises suddenly and is felt in certain areas of the back, which will increase the pain if the patient was standing or walking. If touched, the area will be sore, but usually this pain will disappear gradually after several weeks or several months. If some of the spine were destroyed, it will form an abnormal curvature of the spine (Dowager hump), which causes muscle tension and pain.
Other bones can fracture, which is often caused by a mild pressure or a fall. One of the most serious fractures are hip fractures. What also often happens is that a broken arm bone (radius) in the area persambungannya with the wrist, called fracture COLLES. In addition, in patients with osteoporosis, fractures tend to heal slowly.
In someone who has a broken bone, a diagnosis of osteoporosis diagnosis based on symptoms, physical examination and bone X-rays. Further tests may be needed to rule out other conditions that can be overcome, which can cause osteoporosis.
To diagnose osteoporosis before the occurrence of fracture examination that assesses bone density. The most accurate examination is DXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry). This test is safe and painless, can be done within 5-15 minutes. DXA is very useful for:

    * Women who have a high risk of suffering from osteoporosis
    * Patients that the diagnosis is uncertain
    * Patients whose treatment should be assessed accurately.
Osteoporosi Prevention include:

    * Maintain or increase bone density by consuming adequate calcium
    * Doing exercise with weights
    * Consuming drugs (for certain people).
Consuming adequate amounts of calcium is very effective, especially before achieving maximum bone density (approximately age 30 years). Drink 2 cups of milk and vitamin D every day, can increase bone density in middle-aged woman who previously did not get enough calcium. However, calcium tablets and milk consumed each day end - the end is a debate as a trigger occurs osteoporosis, associated with the theory of osteoblasts.
Exercise load (such as walking and climbing stairs) would increase bone density. Swimming did not increase bone density.
Estrogen helps maintain bone density in women and is often drunk along with progesterone. The most effective estrogen replacement therapy started within 4-6 years after menopause, but if it just started more than 6 years after menopause, can slow the brittleness of bone and reduce fracture risk. Raloksifen a new estrogen-like drug, which may be less effective than estrogen in preventing bone fragility, but has no effect on the breast or uterus. To prevent osteroporosis, bisphosphonate (eg alendronat), can be used alone or in combination with hormone replacement therapy.