Usually found amongst women who are menopausal, the incidence of osteoporosis is especially high amongst Indian women
What is osteoporosis?
‘Osteo’ = bones, and porosis means – of porous nature. Weakening of the bones is a gradual process that occurs as we get older. In many cases, bones weaken when you have low levels of calcium and other minerals in your bones. As a result, the density of minerals in bones decreases and bones become weak and break with minimal force. A person is then diagnosed as having osteoporosis.
Symptoms of osteoporosis:
Osteoporosis is a very common condition, especially in older women and there are no definitive symptoms. Some general symptoms include:
- Loss of height
- Back pain from fractured vertebrae
- A stooped posture
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), osteoporosis is second only to cardiovascular disease, as a global healthcare problem. About 300 million people in India have osteoporosis and it is speculated that in the next decade as much as 50% of the Indian population will have it. When compared to the western world, which reports a peak incidence between ages 70-80, in India, the peak incidence is seen between 50-60 years. Osteoporosis is also three times as common in Indian males as compared to their foreign counterparts. This results in osteoporosis being almost as common in Indian men as it is in Indian females.
Causes and risk factors of osteoporosis:
- Genetic predisposition is one of the biggest causes osteoporosis.
- Low vitamin D levels and dietary calcium intake, along with a sedentary lifestyle increase a person’s chances of developing osteoporosis as well.
- In women, estrogen levels play a very important role in bone health. Consequently, within 5-10 years of menopause, women tend to start losing bone density.
- Certain drugs such as steroids also cause osteoporosis. These include drugs such as prednisolone, dexamethasone and cortisone that are considered essential for the treatment of certain conditions such as asthma and auto-immune disorders such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Diagnosis of osteoporosis:
The test used to check the density of a person’s bones and the presence of osteoporosis is called bone densitometry. Since there are no obvious symptoms of the disease, most people suffer a fracture before they get themselves tested. However, there are some early signs that can help you determine if you might be at risk of the disease.
The International Osteoporosis Foundation has developed this one-minute risk test for people to take to see if they have the affliction. Take the test for yourself here.
Treatment and prevention of osteoporosis:
It is important to minimise risk factors that may cause osteoporosis. Regular physical activity, a healthy diet, calcium supplements, exposure to sunlight and cessation of smoking are ways to keep the bones strong. Regular bone density checking should be done after a certain age. Women around the age of menopause may think about hormonal support. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been widely studied and regarded as effective and safe. Biphophonates – a newer group of drugs can also be taken and are very effective.
There are many myths associated with osteoporosis. Clear your doubts here.
Photograph by Jacque Stengel, via sxc.hu
