Osteoporosis is a bone disease that is prevalent in women after their
menopausal period. It is characterized by a reduction in bone density and leads
to an increase in the risk of having bone fracture. In osteoporosis, the
mineral content in the bones as well as the structure of the bone itself is
greatly altered, making the woman susceptible to bone injuries and their
complications.
Detecting Osteoporosis
By itself, osteoporosis has no specific symptoms. The risk or presence of the
disease is only detected if the woman becomes injured or suffers bone fractures
in circumstances that healthy people would normally not suffer the same fate.
In this case, the situation is described as fragility fracture because the
injury is greatly due to the weak structure of the bone.
In the more advanced cases of osteoporosis, vertebral collapse is also noted.
This is a condition that indicates that the vertebra is no longer able to
support the woman’s body weight. This is also accompanied by severe back pain,
and regular and stinging pain caused by nerve compression. Fractures may also
occur in other body parts, and depending on the severity and state of health of
the patient, surgery may be recommended.
A very delicate situation is when a hip fracture occurs. In this case, prompt
surgery is required because the condition brings with it deep vein thrombosis
and pulmonary embolism with fatal consequences.
Treatment of Osteoporosis
Thanks to modern technology, there are now varied means for treating
osteoporosis:
*Medication is the most common and a readily available form of treatment. In
medication for osteoporosis, bisphosphonates are the most commonly used drug
and is the first-line treatment for women who are affected with osteoporosis.
However, the drug has a record of poor absorption. In order to maximize the
potency of the drug, the patient must not take anything for at least 30 minutes
after taking the medication. Another drug commonly used is teriparatide. The
teriparatide drug is given to women with confirmed cases of osteoporosis or
those who have already suffered bone fractures. Moreover, it is also used as an
alternative to bisphosphonates especially when the patient cannot tolerate the
latter. Teriparatide is administered in small injections.
* Another treatment that holds the future for the treatment of osteoporosis is
hormone replacement. Although this process holds a lot of promise, its
application as treatment for osteoporosis is not strongly recommended unless
there are other uses for it.
* Nutritional factors. Calcium and Vitamin D are two very important nutrients a
woman must have to effectively counter osteoporosis. Calcium is essential for
bone growth, bone healing, and for maintaining bone strength. Calcium
supplements are easily available in the market and it can contribute much
toward countering osteoporosis. On the other hand, vitamin D helps reduce the
incidence of fractures in women.
* Exercise. The proper amount and regular exercise are also very vital in
ensuring that osteoporosis is treated and the woman’s bone health restored to
top condition.