Osteoporosis is a disease in which the density and quality of bones are reduced. It occurs when bone loss is so severe it causes bone to become porous, brittle and likely to break or fracture. Osteoporosis leads to weakness of the bones and increased risk of fracture of bones especially of the spine, www.bigreddesignagency.co.za
hips and forearms. It is called the ‘silent disease’ as it does not produce symptoms until a fracture occurs after a minor accident or fall
Internationally, at least one in three women and one in five men over the age of 50 will suffer a fracture caused by weak bones.
Risk Factors
Osteoporosis mainly affects women after menopause but can also affect men.
The risk factors include:
- Advancing age
- Female gender
- White or Asian ethnicity
- Family history of osteoporosis
- Low calcium / vitamin D intake
- Smoking and or excessive use of alcohol
- Low Body Mass Index
- High Caffeine intake
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Amenorrhoea
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Hyper-Corticism
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypogonadism
- Corticosteroid use
- Anti-Convulsant use
- Thyroxine use
- Heparin use
- Malabsorption syndromes
- Anorexia Nervosa
Diagnosis
A Bone Mineral Density Scan (BMD) assists your health care provider to diagnose Osteoporosis in a safe, simple and painless manner. The diagnosis and treatment of Osteoporosis begins with an objective measurement of your current bone status. A Bone Mineral Density Scan determines whether one is at high, increased or low risk of fracturing a bone. The BMD Scan is a painless and comfortable examination that takes 20minutes.
