Women's Health

Osteoporosis

Written by Mark Abell

Almost everyone had heard about it. Osteoporosis. It's a very common ailment and problem existing mostly in females who have gone through the "change of life", or menopause. It's a problem that has been under the scrutiny of the medical field for years but also has promising treatments. While television commercials are using the problem to advance some over-the-counter medications, such as some of the antacid tablets, we are not being told the whole story. And most of what we are hearing about osteoporosis, at least in commercials, is nothing more than a pitch to sell a product; so read on.

Osteoporosis is simply a condition that affects the density of bone tissue. In women, particularly those who have past their reproductive years or those who have undergone a total hysterectomy (ovaries also removed), the problem becomes more severe. Generally speaking, it is known that without the hormone estrogen, bone density decreases. Men don't have the same problem, although they can have osteoporosis; but is usually presents at a later age in life. So let's first look at the development of bone.

Bone is what we refer to as "hard tissue" in the body (soft tissue is the skin and the underlying structures, etc). Bones provide the body with the ability to keep its form and it provides a way to be mobile. Without bone, your body would be nothing more than a soft glob - with no form and no way to "get around". Bone tissue is constantly being destroyed and repaired. There are two distinct cells (among others) in bone responsible for its development: osteoclasts and osteoblasts. The osteoblasts produce new bone while osteoclasts "break down" old bone tissue. It is known that without the needed hormone estrogen, the bones cannot create new cells as much as before; hence, the affect is (after some time) old, brittle bone tissue, which can lead to devastating consequences, such as fractures.

The problems associated with osteoporosis take years to manifest. However, one of the most common problems, particularly in women, is the hip fracture. A fall is not always needed, as sometime, there could be the development of a "pathological fracture"; the hip bone just breaks (usually at the surgical neck of the femur). This can present a problem, as a hip fracture can sometimes cause the development of a blood clot, which can then leave the area where it was formed and enter the lungs (via the venous system). The result is a pulmonary embolism, which can be life-threatening.

So, then, what can be done to help prevent or even cure osteoporosis? Well, for one thing, if you are a female and you have either gone through menopause or undergone a hysterectomy, talk with your family physician about hormone replacement therapy. It is beyond the scope of this article to discuss the topic in its entirety; see your doctor. There are many forms of hormone therapy and many approaches to their use, but it is not for everyone. If you are older, and have been told that you might be developing osteoporosis, then the use of hormone replacement has been proven to be beneficial, but it must be used along with some other medications, such as calcium and Didronel. If you are thinking that, since bone is made of calcium, you can just start taking more calcium, then you are lead to believe exactly what some of the commercials on television are telling you. It certainly will not hurt, but most of the calcium will not be absorbed without sunlight (calcium is absorbed in the gut; but it needs sunlight , or Vitamin D, absorbed through the skin, in order to be absorbed) and even if it was to be absorbed, the calcium alone would not do the trick. The medication Didronel has been used quite extensively in the treatment of osteoporosis in the elderly female - under the care of a qualified physician. (It does have its side effects, such as nausea, and diarrhea). Didrobel is a medication which comes in the form of a pill as well as IV infusion, and has its place in the treatment of Paget's disease, as well.

Osteoporosis is a common ailment. If you feel that you might be a woman with a potential for the disease, seek the attention of your family doctor. The ramifications of the disease, such as hip fractures are most important. Hip fractures occur in women more often than men, and the threat of hip fractures is more common after the fifth decade of life (after the age of 50). There has been a lot of headway made in the treatment of osteoporosis; in fact, x-rays and bone scans have shown that treatment results in the development of dense bone tissue where bone was once very sparse.

For more information about osteoporosis, see the following URLs on the internet:

National Osteoporosis Foundation

Osteoporosis

Pharmametrics - Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis

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