Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis (OP) is the most common form of the disease. It is characterized by a decrease in bone mineral content, a decrease in bone mineral density, and a degradation in bone structure. Osteoporosis is frequently referred to as a "silent disease" because it does not have obvious signs. Usually, bone mineral density (BMD) is used to assess whether people suffer from this disease. According to the WHO criteria, BMD that is 2.5 standard deviations or more below the average for young, healthy women is considered to have osteoporosis.
Trend
Osteoporosis has now become a significant public health concern, as it is estimated roughly 200 million individuals are impacted by this disease in the globe. According to reports, 18.3% of the world's population has osteoporosis. Though osteoporosis is mostly found in the elderly, there is a younger trend. It was suggested that women who experience early menopause would have lower bone density will be later in life. The global prevalence of early menopause may thus lead to a higher risk of suffering osteoporosis in middle-aged women.
Causes
Osteoporosis is a bone disease caused by mass bone loss. Osteoporosis can be classified into primary, including age, hormones and sex factors etc., or secondary, which is initiated by different diseases, treatments and medication. Normally, human bones are constantly being renewed --- new bone is created and old bone is broken down. Human bone mass increases when people are young because our body produces new bone more quickly than it destroys old bone. The majority of people reach their peak bone mass by age 30 after this process slows down in their early 20s. However, as people age, bone mass is lost faster than it is created, hence causing osteoporosis.
Risk Factors
Medications
Numerous medications are responsible for causing the loss of BDM. Corticosteroids, often known as steroids that are frequently used in reducing inflammation, have been identified as a cause of osteoporosis. It is suggested that even a small dose using can lead to huge impacts on BMD. Inhaled glucocorticoids, such as triamcinolone, have also been confirmed to lower BMD with long-term use. Glucocorticoids affect the bone-forming cells, which results in a reduction in bone formation.
Sex
Usually, women are more susceptible to osteoporosis. According to data, the average loss of BMD during the menopausal transition phase is 10%. In the five to six years around menopause, half of the women are losing bone much more quickly, perhaps as much as 10%-20%. The huge loss of bone during menopause is related to female hormone (estrogen) deficiency. Since the activity of bone-resorbing cells (osteoclasts) increases while the activity of bone-forming cells (osteoblasts) decreases due to the deficiency of the female hormone, the amount of bone resorbed exceeds the amount deposited, thus leading to a net loss of bone.
Excessive alcohol intake
It has been reported that excessive alcohol intake can be a risk factor for low bone mass-related fracture in humans because alcohol suppresses the formation of bone-forming cells (osteoblasts) and stimulates the activity of bone-resorbing cells, which reduces the bone formation in the human body.
Check whether you encounter any of the factors
Consequence
Healthy bones have a sponge-like appearance on the inside which is called trabecular bone. The spongy bone is wrapped by a tough outer layer of bone, which is called cortical bone. When osteoporosis occurs, the "holes" in the trabecular bone will grow larger, weakening the structure of the bone. Therefore, human bones may become weaker and more brittle. The weak bones may break and cause a fracture from a fall, or sneezing or minor bumps in serious cases.
Prevention
Increasing physical activity
It was found that exercise can help people build strong bones and slow bone loss. The pulling and pressing on bones that take place during strength and power training provide stress, hence making the bones stronger and denser. Consequently, engaging in physical activity or exercise is a crucial lifestyle choice for maintaining bone mass over time.
Drink less alcohol
A review concluded that one alcoholic drink for women and two drinks for men have no negative influence on bone and even show a protective effect against osteoporosis. However, bone tissue damage starts when alcohol consumption is more than two glasses per day. It is therefore suggested to drink less alcohol if people already have excessive intake.
Increasing vitamin D uptake
Since vitamin D increases the body's capacity to absorb calcium that helps build and maintain strong bones, getting more vitamin D is thus important in improving bone health. Dietary choices like cod liver oil and salmon can increase the level of vitamin D. Moderate sunbath could also help people "get" some vitamin D.