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Every part of our body is made of cells and tissues. The bone tissue, like all other tissues, keeps decaying and regenerating to keep our bones strong. The moment this process slows down, new bone tissues can’t keep up with the old decaying tissues, leading to the bones becoming fragile. This happens in the case of men and women, however, post-menopausal women are more susceptible to getting this than any other person. Osteoporosis is also linked to vitamin D deficiency, which also increases the fragility of our bones.
This disease is a silent assassin. The condition progresses internally without any symptoms or pain, and the only time it surfaces is when the bones undergo a fracture. But it can be prevented with timely treatment and diagnosis. But before we reach treatment options let us understand the causes and symptoms of osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis arrives silently and leaves colossal damage behind. In the initial stage, there are no distinguishable symptoms of bone or tissue loss. But over time when the bones become fragile the following symptoms start surfacing:
The symptoms are very basic, but the impact is deeply rooted as bone tissue takes time to repair in normal circumstances, with a reduced regeneration time, it takes twice the time to heal and repair, adding a greater burden on the patients.
The insides of a healthy bone resemble a sponge and are called trabecular bone. An outer hard shell of bone covers the inner spongy layer forming what is called the cortical bone. During osteoporosis, these sponge holes inside grow in number & size making the insides weak. These bones have a bigger role to support the body, protecting vital organs, and storing calcium and other minerals. When the body requires calcium, it breaks down the bone tissue and rebuilds it. Supplying the calcium needed for the body’s skeleton to stay strong.
To understand the causes behind osteoporosis we need to identify the people who are at a greater risk of developing the problem.
Now that we know the high-risk groups that can get the disease, our focus will move to the root causes that lead to osteoporosis.
Gradually with time, level of activity and age this mass keeps decaying faster than it is regenerated. Your likelihood of developing osteoporosis depends on the bone mass attained by your body in its youth. So the higher mass the lower the decay when you age.
Men undergoing prostate cancer treatment and women undergoing breast or gynae cancer treatments have reduced testosterone and oestrogen levels which are bound to accelerate bone mass loss drastically.
– Deficiency of calcium and Vitamin D will invite the disease. Lower calcium intake gives a diminished bone density, increased risk of fractures and early bone mass loss.
– Anorexia or bulimia like eating disorders can also lead to this. Severely restricting food intake weakens the bones.
– Steroids, especially corticosteroids when consumed over a prolonged period will lead to weaker bones.
– Bariatric or gastrointestinal surgery will reduce the size of your stomach leaving less surface area to absorb nutrients like calcium. This happens in rare cases since these corrective surgeries are done to rectify other gastro concerns.
– Sedentary lifestyle: Those who have to sit around all day gradually develop a lot of bone and vertebrae problems, increasing the risk of osteoporosis. More oxygen and circulation can prevent this.
– Too much consumption of alcohol & tobacco consumption in any form will also make your bones porous. Anything more than 2 alcoholic drinks in a day is not desirable.
Once you reach out to an orthopaedic, they will suggest the following tests based on the severity of your conditions and complaints.
Bone Density Scan: Since the problem lies in the internal decay of bones, the first step towards diagnosis is by running a bone density test. This is a painless test where low-intensity x-rays determine the mineral content in your bone. This is the most comprehensive test for the full body.
CT scan: Another internal imaging test that will give the physician a clearer picture of what is happening inside.
Bone Ultrasound: This is an imaging test done on specific bones in the body. This will help us understand exactly how deep the problem is.
The results from these imaging tests will help the orthopaedic form an opinion about the patient’s current condition and suggest a treatment route.
While most of our height and bone growth are attributed to genetics, we do not have much control over bone mass. However, we can make some necessary lifestyle adjustments to ensure our body steers clear of the disease.
In conclusion, the older we get the more our bones decay. The best way out is a healthy and disciplined lifestyle in the long run. However, not all of us can do this which is why ailments like osteoporosis start dictating our life and lifestyle. There is a way out and relief is just one consultation away. Reach out to the best Orthopaedic Surgeons in Delhi NCR, who will not only compassionately treat your pain points but also ensure you get a better quality of life for as long as you live. To book an appointment, call +911244570112.
