SureFire Women Health

Have you ever wondered what is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis causes low bone mass, loss of normal bone density, and deterioration of the bone tissue. It is a disease of the skeletal system.

Bones are made up of protein, collagen, and calcium and are normally very dense. Osteoporosis causes bones to become very sponge-like. This deterioration of bone tissue makes the bones more brittle and easily fractured.

There are two types of Osteoporosis:

Type I - Post menopausal osteoporosis:

This type of osteoporosis typically develops in women after menopause. After menopause the amount of estrogen in the body is significantly decreased. This large drop in estrogen leads to an increase of resorption of the bone.

Type I osteoporosis is far more common in women than in men. The most affected group are usually women between 50 and 70.

Type II - Sometimes referred to as senile osteoporosis:

Type II osteoporosis typically affects older women. It is believed that women over 70 are twice as likely to develop Type II osteoporosis than men. This type of osteoporosis leads to the thinning of both the trabecular and cortical bone. The cortical, or compact bone, is the dense outer surface of the bone. It is normally quite hard. The trabecular or spongy bone is the inner layer. It accounts for the majority of the interior of most bones. The primary function of the trabecular bone is to store minerals. It also provides protection for the organs and support the body.

The structural breakdown of bone tissue caused by osteoporosis is what causes the bones to become more brittle and at a higher risk of being fractured. Osteoporosis causes bones to fracture or break more easily from falls or injuries that would otherwise be considered minor for normal, healthy bones. Any bone can be affected by osteoporosis. However, the most common areas to be fractured or injured are the hips, writs, and spine.

Osteoporosis is often referred to as a silent disease. This is because many people may have it for years without showing any visible symptoms. They may even have minor fractures or injuries without any pain. Many remain unaware of their condition until the suffer a serious injury or a really bad fracture.

It is very difficult to rebuild bone that has already been weakened by osteoporosis. This is why it is very important to have an early detection to ensure timely treatment. There is currently no know cure for osteoporosis. However, steps can be taken to prevent, slow down or even stop progress of the disease. But the damage cannot be reversed.

Early detection and prevention steps can go a long way in preventing future bone loss. The primary goal of early detection is to intervene if necessary and work to increase the strength and density of the bones. This will significantly lower the risk of dangerous factors or injuries.

So there you have it, a basic overview of what is osteoporosis.

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