Osteoporosis is derived from the Greek word osteo, which means bone, and from the Latin word poros, or passageway. The term osteoporosis accurately describes the structural changes in an osteoporotic bone. The increased porosity of the affected bone is brought about by reduced bone mass density, resulting in bone brittleness. Osteoporosis is often associated to aging, since this condition is more commonly seen in postmenopausal women and in men around 70 years of age. Both genders are equally susceptible to develop osteoporosis, but women are more likely to manifest its signs and complications.

Osteoporosis is commonly called a silent disease since one might not be fully aware that he or she has this bone disorder until a fracture occurs. Because of bone brittleness, minimal trauma to an osteoporotic bone often results in bone breakage, as it cannot withstand the pressure and force that it used to endure. Every case of osteoporosis is different from the others. One might have a mild osteoporosis, as others suffer the its debilitating complications. The susceptibility of one bone to develop osteoporosis is influenced by your peak bone mass. Peak bone mass is defined as the total amount of bones that you have as reach your full skeletal maturity. The more bone mass you have, the lesser the risk of having osteoporosis. Increasing the risk for osteoporosis is the advanced age, female gender, family history, calcium deficiency, estrogen deficiency, smoking, chronic alcohol intake, sedentary lifestyle and the use of medications.

The exact cause of osteoporosis is not certain but researches acknowledge that there is an imbalance between bone formation and bone resorption, a process of tearing down old bones. Before the peak bone mass is reached, at the age of 35, bone formation occurs more rapidly than bone resorption, a process of tearing down the old bone. After the age of 35, the relationship of bone formation and bone resorption. More bone is lost than is gained which explains the reduced bone mass in osteoporosis.

The most common manifestations of osteoporosis are the decrease in vertebral height and the dowager’s hump. Other manifestations are the curvature of the spine, pain in the lower back region, fractures, abdominal protuberance, gait changes and impaired lung function.

Osteoporosis Prevention ¦ Osteoporosis Treatment