Detection and Diagnosis Osteoporosis

THE human skeletal bones with a reduced mass and increased porosity are observed as osteoporotic bones and the condition is called osteoporosis. The milder condition is known as osteopenia when the process of reduction in bone mass starts. Osteoporosis is a major health problem, affecting an estimated 200 million people worldwide.

The fragility in the bone matrix starts when the dietary intake of calcium, protein and vitamins is deficient and not taken in the required quantity. The common factor of hormonal changes affects mostly women in their post-menopausal period (50 to 60 years) when dietary absorption is affected. The senile osteoporosis due to the ageing process is common in the old age, which depends upon the intake of good diet along with a minimum schedule of exercise. The majority of osteoporotic cases involve women above 50 years with post-menopausal hormonal change.                                           Foods to Prevent Fatigue
The fragile bones with a moderate fall or bump sustain fractures and the risk goes up with an increase in porosity. The fractures need early fixation because prolonged lying down in bed also increases osteoporosis. The quality of bone is very important for every fracture fixation.

Despite the availability of good fracture treatment, osteoporosis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, which places a heavy burden on the individual pockets and society at large. The patients suffer from disability and pain, which are common consequences of osteporotic fractures while the hip fractures are associated with an approximately 20 per cent reduction in survival.                

An early diagnosis of osteoporosis is difficult, as the patient does not have any obvious symptoms. Only one sign can lead to diagnosis — the feeling of fatigue after only two hours of domestic work and the other sign is prolonged backache not responding to conservative treatment. Osteoporotic patients normally present with a vertebral fracture or a fracture at the hip.

The assessment of bone mineral density (BMD) is the only reliable parameter to diagnose osteopenia or osteoporosis. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scanning is considered the gold standard for the determination of BMD. The hip and the lumber spine are the preferred sites for BMD measurements. One must start getting ones bones checked every three to five years after 40 years of age.

Although BMD is reliable, overall assessment of the patient suffering from osteoporosis should be done in relation to the risk of fracture and clinical treatment effective for the individual patient.

BMD assessment should become mandatory in the preventive health check-up in persons above the age of 40 years. Sedentary lifestyle also affects the bones to preserve the bone matrix, and if it continues the bones will definitely show loss of bone mass and become osteoporotic in the early forties. If the BMD test shows T-score -1.5 it is a warning sign and one must start bothering about the body structure. To manage this early osteoporosis, a balanced intake of proteins, vitamins and calcium with a minimum schedule of exercise will help in improving the lifestyle.                                          Beauty comes from within

The treatment guidelines are to prevent the development of osteoporosis and strengthen the bone matrix, which will reduce the risk of bone fracture. The most effective anti-resoptive drugs are bisphosphonates, which are currently considered the treatment of choice. Alendronate is the leading bisphosphonate, which is taken as a weekly morning dose with an empty stomach to overcome the loss of bone. There are many proprietary names of Alendronate but take the advice of your doctor before consuming it.

There is no use of taking only calcium just to build up bone mass when osteoclast cells are eating up the bone. It is the combination of alendronates and calcium products, which are most effective to combat the metabolic enigma of osteoporosis. Pharmaceutical companies have come out with convenient oral doses of these products like weekly kits or monthly packs. Some prefer the nasal route in the spray form.

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