Osteoporosis and How to Tell if You Have it

22/12/10 08:07

According to Medicinenet.com, Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by a decrease in the density of bone, decreasing its strength and resulting in fragile bones. Osteoporosis literally leads to abnormally porous bone that is compressible, like a sponge. This disorder of the skeleton weakens the bone and results in frequent fractures (breaks) in the bones.

Determining Factors:

Female gender
Caucasian or Asian race
Thin and small body frame
Family history of osteoporosis (for example, having a mother with an osteoporotic hip fracture doubles your risk of hip fracture)
Personal history of fracture as an adult
Cigarette smoking
Excessive alcohol consumption
Lack of exercise
Diet low in calcium
Poor nutrition and poor general health
Malabsorption (nutrients are not properly absorbed from the gastrointestinal system) from conditions such as celiac sprue
Low estrogen levels in women (such as occur in menopause or with early surgical removal of both ovaries)
Low testosterone levels in men (hypogonadism)
Chemotherapy that can cause early menopause due to its toxic effects on the ovaries
Amenorrhea (loss of the menstrual period) in young women associated with low estrogen and osteoporosis; amenorrhea can occur in women who undergo extremely vigorous exercise training and in women with very low body fat, for example, women with anorexia nervosa
Chronic inflammation, due to chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or liver diseases
Immobility, such as after a stroke, or from any condition that interferes with walking