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Friday, 03 July 2009 11:32 |
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‘Osteo’ comes from the Greek word meaning bone.
Osteoporosis is a common skeletal condition, which is also known as ‘brittle bones’, due to the thinning of bones causing them to become porous, fragile and more brittle, making bones easier to fracture or break. It is often referred to as a ‘silent disease’ because you may not realise you have osteoporosis until you actually break a bone.
Around 20 percent of the body’s bone tissue is replaced each year with the bone density cycle. Old bone is removed by cells called osteoclasts and replaced with the formation of new bone tissue by cells called osteoblasts. The old bone is replaced and removed by the release of acids and enzymes by the osteoclasts then the new tissue is deposited by the osteoblasts, which also secrete protein for bone strength.
Estrogen deficiency has been recorded as a cause of bone loss. This loss can be noted for the first time when menstrual cycles become irregular during perimenopause. It can occur anytime from 1.5 years before the menopause to 1.5 years after menopause.
In Australia one in two women and one in three men aged 60 and over, will sustain an osteoporotic fracture. Any bone can be affected by osteoporosis, but the most common fractures occur in the hip, spine, wrist, ribs, pelvis and upper arm.
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 07 July 2009 17:07 |
Osteoporosis Overview
