Bone health

To understand osteoporosis, it is important to learn about the bone. Mainly of collagen, bone is living, growing tissue. Collagen is a protein which provides a flexible framework and the calcium phosphate mineral is one that adds strength and harden the frame. This combination of collagen and calcium makes strong and flexible enough bone to resist stress. Over 99 percent of the calcium in the body is found in the bones and teeth. The remaining 1 percent is in the blood.

Two types of bone found in the body-cortical and trabecular. Cortical bone is dense and compact. The outer layer of the bone is formed. Trabecular bone which composes the inner layer of the bone and has a spongy structure, honeycomb.

bone remodeling

Women, Men, and osteoporosis

bone remodeling

Throughout life, bone is constantly renewed by a two-part process called remodeling. This method involves resorption and formation. During resorption, special cells called osteoclasts break down and remove old bone. During bone formation, new bone is planned to replace the old. Several hormones including calcitonin, parathyroid hormone, vitamin D, estrogen (in women) and testosterone (in men), among others, regulate osteoclast and osteoblast function.

The bank account bone

Think bone like a bank account where you "deposit" and "withdraw" bone. During childhood and adolescence, new bone is added to the skeleton faster than old bone is removed. As a result, bones become larger, heavier and more dense. For most people, bone formation is proceeding at a faster rate than the removal until bone mass peaks form during the third decade of life.

After 20 years, the bones "withdrawals" may begin to exceed "deposits." For many people, this bone loss can be prevented by continuing to get calcium, vitamin D, and exercise and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Osteoporosis develops when the removal of the bone occurs too quickly, the replacement occurs too slowly, or both. You are more likely to develop osteoporosis if you have not reached your maximum peak bone mass during your bone building years.

Women, Men, and osteoporosis

Women are more likely than men to develop osteoporosis. This is because women generally have smaller, thinner bones than men and because women can lose bone rapidly in the first 4-8 years after menopause due to the sharp decline in the production of estrogen hormone. Produced by the ovaries, estrogen has been shown to have a protective effect on bone. Women usually go through menopause between 45 and 55 years after menopause, bone loss in women far exceeds that of men. However, by age 65, men and women tend to lose bone at the same rate. Although men do not experience the equivalent of menopause, the production of the male hormone testosterone may decrease, and this can lead to increased bone loss and an increased risk of developing osteoporosis.

Prevention of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is preventable for many people. Prevention is important because even though there are treatments for osteoporosis, a cure has not been found yet. A comprehensive program that can help prevent osteoporosis include:

bearing exercise

a healthy lifestyle without smoking or excessive alcohol consumption

bone density tests………..drugs, if appropriate

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