Osteoporosis is a systemic
skeletal disorder that is characterized by decreased
bone mass, leading to weak and brittle bones that
have higher risk of fractures.
This condition is not limited
to women and can also occur in men too. A study done
by the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2001 showed
that over 22% of men aged 65 and over suffered osteoporosis.
What are the causes?
Our bone is a dynamic organ.
New bone tissue is being made while old bone tissue
is being broken down. As we get past around age of
30, the process of new bone formation began to slow
down relative to the process of old bone removal.
This means that more bone cells are removed than new
ones added, leading to gradual loss of bone mass.
The risk of osteoporosis increases in later life if
the person starts with a lesser bone mass and has
a more rapid rate of bone loss. The following factors
also predispose a person to osteoporosis:
Alcoholism
Smoking
Sedentary lifestyle or prolonged immobilization
such as after a stroke
Poor diet with low calcium intake
Drugs (steroid, chemotherapy, anti-convulsants)
Certain endocrine diseases (e.g. thyrotoxicosis),
cancer and inflammatory bowel disease
What
are the symptoms?
Osteoporosis is usually
clinically silent until a fracture occurs. The symptoms
depend on the fracture site. The common sites of fracture
include:
Spine - often with acute back pain, progressively
stooped posture and loss of height.
Forearm - usually at the wrist area, often resulted
from a fall.
Hip - usually resulted from a fall.
How
to prevent osteoporosis?
You can lower your
risk of osteoporosis by the following ways:
Engage in an active lifestyle and do regular exercise.
Weight-bearing exercise based on your physical condition
such as walking upstairs and weight lifting helps
build calcium reserve in your bones.
Eat a well-balanced diet to ensure adequate intake
of calcium and Vitamin D. Calcium-enriched low fat
milk/cheese, fish with bones (e.g. sardine) and
dark green leafy vegetables are all good choices.
Quit smoking.
Reduce or avoid alcohol intake.
Preventive measures should preferably begin in childhood
and adolescence.
What
is the treatment?
The medical treatment of
established osteoporosis mainly aims to slow down
the rate of bone break down. If fracture occurs, surgical
treatment may be needed. Lifestyle modification is
important along with these treatments. The doctor
will recommend the most appropriate treatment regimen
depending on the severity of the patient's disease
and any other associated conditions.
What can I do if I have
osteoporosis?
If you have been diagnosed to
have osteoporosis, there are a number of ways to help yourself:
Maintain proper posture when sitting, walking or lifting
weights to reduce stress to your spine.
Exercise regularly, it improves agility and balance,
and hence reduces risk of falls.
Take extra care to prevent falls or trip.
Follow the doctor's advice on drug treatment, exercise
prescription and physiotherapy.
If you have any suspicion,
you should consult your doctor.
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