Open Access

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease in which weakening of the bone increases the risk of bone fracture. This is the most common reason for a bone fracture in the elderly. Bones that most likely break include the vertebrae of the spine, the bones of the forearm, and the hip.  Until a broken bone occurs, there are almost no symptoms. The bones can weaken to the point where rupture can occur with minor stress or spontaneously.  After a bone fracture, chronic pain and decreased ability to perform normal activities may occur.

Osteoporosis can be caused by lower than normal maximum bone mass and higher than normal bone loss.  Estrogen levels in menopause increase after Bone loss increases.  Osteoporosis can also cause a number of illnesses or treatments, including alcoholism, anorexia, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, and surgical removal of the ovaries.  Certain drugs increase the rate of bone loss, including certain anti-ilepileptic drugs, chemotherapy, proton pump inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and glucocorticost.  Smoking, consumption of dairy products and too little exercise are unlawfully risk factors.  Osteoporosis is defined as a young adult with a bone density of less than 2.5 standard deviations.  This is commonly measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.