Other names: osteoporosis, bone loss

Osteoporosis is called osteoporosis. Bone mass was normally throughout life continuously represents – part is degraded, and in turn the cells form new bone tissue. This process should be in balance. In older age (postmenopausal women) or due to a variety of diseases, however, this action pushes the benefit of increased degradation and thereby thinning of bone tissue.

The postmenopausal osteoporosis in women (aged 55-65 years) is due to the lack of female hormones – estrogen, which in the course of a woman’s life positively affect new formation and inhibits bone resorption. One of the main symptoms of osteoporosis are fractures and in this case, specifically fractures vertebrae.

Senile, people aged over 70, affecting both women and men, but more often in women again. In this age is characterized by a greater incidence of hip fractures.

Elderly people no longer form a sufficient amount of vitamin D, which also participates in the process of bone remodeling. It is therefore good that vitamin supply your body at least in tablets.

Osteoporosis can be caused not only by age but also by various hormonal disorders (Cushing’s syndrome, thyroid disease, diabetes, diseases of the parathyroid glands, excess prolactin etc.),Malnutrition, disease, kidney and liver diseases, rheumatic diseases, in bed all day with lack of exercise, tumors (eg, multiple myeloma), scoliosis and back pain and even certainmedications (corticosteroids, thyroid medication, heparin blood thinning medication for epilepsy,some immunosuppressive drugs).

Symptoms of osteoporosis may already mentioned fractures (bones are like thinner and more fragile, so easily break when minor injuries), back pain, increasing movement and load, sudden shooting pain in the abdomen and lower extremities after a sharp movement, hunchbacked back,decreasing body height, worse walking up stairs, difficulty getting dressed, tying shoelaces and change position from lying to sitting position.

Initially, however, there is bone loss without symptoms, and even though it is advisable to walk in the elderly (especially women) to the so-called. Densitometry, X-ray where you measure the thickness of the bones of the vertebral or femoral neck.

treatment of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is treated calcium (1000-1500 mg daily), vitamin D, calcitonin (which has also analgetic), hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women (in particular, if previously started), raloxifene (Evista), bisphosphonates (Fosamax, Actonel), teriparatide, fluorides, anabolic steroids and stronciumranelátem.

Appropriate prevention is also an adequate supply of calcium diet and regular bone loading reasonable movement.