Osteoporosis (bone thinning) is a physiological loss of bone mass. It begins after the age of 30 and amounts to less than 1 percent. annually. This is because the enzymes involved in the metabolism of vitamin D and its absorption in the gut decline over time. What are the symptoms of thinning bones? What is the treatment of this disease?
Thinning of bonesis also known as osteoporosis, which means chronic bone decalcification, reduction of bone mass and density, leading to increased bone fragility. Bone loss in women is most pronounced in the first years after menopause. During this period, women are at risk of fractures around the wrists. Fractures of the vertebrae of the spine (most often in the lumbar and thoracic spine) are painful and restrict activity. They are responsible for the loss of height. Fractures of the femoral neck are another threat (they usually happen after the age of 70). As a result of postmenopausal osteoporosis, the vertebrae, ribs, pelvis, femur and radius are at risk of fractures.
Loss of bone: causes
The development of bone thinning is favored by:
- gender - ladies are in a worse situation because they develop osteoporosis much more often than men. After the age of 50, every third woman and every fifth man will experience bone fractures
- age - the bone loss process increases when the body stops producing sex hormones, i.e. during the menopause in women or the so-called andropause in men. 65 percent bone fractures typical of osteoporosis concerns people over 65
- race - Caucasians, or whites, are 4 times more susceptible to osteoporosis than black people
- long-term estrogen deficiencies (e.g. early ovarian failure, hormonal disorders)
- silhouette - the disease more often affects thin people. The reason is the low peak mass of the bone
- genes - people whose relatives (parents and siblings) suffer from bone thinning, may have inherited genes that increase the risk of developing the disease
- sedentary lifestyle
- A diet that provides low doses of vitamin D and calcium - who have avoided milk and dairy products throughout their lives may expect that they will not accumulate enoughcalcium and did not achieve high bone mass. Therefore, faster than others, he will lose so much bone tissue that his bones will be exposed to frequent fractures
- alcohol abuse, smoking, drinking large amounts of coffee - coffee, alcohol, cigarettes are the great enemies of our bones. Women who smoke cigarettes go through the menopause earlier and are more likely to develop the disease. Cigarette smoke contains cadmium which destroys your bones. And the caffeine in coffee makes it difficult for calcium to be absorbed. All beverages with caffeine, such as tea, cola and energizers, also have a negative effect.
- long-term therapy with hormones from the group of glucocorticoids, which is used, for example, in bronchial asthma, or immunosuppressants, which are taken after transplants
- diseases - women who suffer from hormonal disorders, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer are more at risk of osteoporosis than others.
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Menopausal women are most likely to suffer from bone thinning. After the age of 50, every third woman experiences bone fractures
Loss of bone: symptoms
Loss of bone does not give symptoms that could lead to prophylactic examinations. Usually, the patient is referred to a specialist when the disease is advanced, which manifests itself in fractures, which - what is characteristic - are caused by a slight trauma, a fall from a small height.
Loss of bone: research
In order to reliably assess the condition of bones, it is worth undergoing the following tests:
- blood and urine analysis - allows you to exclude other diseases that may cause osteoporosis, as well as to determine bone metabolism. The most common determinations in the blood are: ESR, hemoglobin level, the number of red and white blood cells and their morphology, the level of calcium, phosphorus, acid and alkaline phosphatase and the concentration of creatinine. In the daily collection of urine - incl. calcium, phosphorus and creatinine levels. You can also mark the so-called Bone markers - These are substances that leak into the blood and urine when bones are forming or destroying. As a result, the pace of the reconstruction and disintegration processes can be precisely determined. Due to the high costs, the test is performed mainly to monitor the treatment of osteoporosis
- radiological examination - shows the shape and internal structure of the bones, detects fractures. Usually, this is how the thoracic and lumbar spine are examined (the most common fractures), and additionally, the femoral neck and radius (to see if there are structural disorders). The radiograph shows only large (over 30%) loss of minerals, but it provides the doctorinformation to distinguish conditions other than osteoporosis that cause a reduction in bone mineral density
- ultrasonography (most often of the calcaneal bone or phalanges of the hand) is only an orientation test. Estimates fracture risk but gives no information on bone mineral density
- densitometry is a very precise (with an accuracy of 1%) determination of the mineral density of the bone tissue. For this purpose, X-rays are used. There is no need to prepare for the test, it is painless and takes only a few minutes. The measurement is taken in the spine and neck of the femur. The densitometry result shows whether the bone condition is normal (from 1.0 to -1.0), there has been a reduction in bone mass, the so-called osteopenia, which means the risk of osteoporosis (from -1.0 to -2.5), or there is already osteoporosis (less than 2.5). If osteoporosis is found, further tests are needed
Densitometry is the most precise test that can detect bone thinning. It allows to determine the mineral density of bone tissue with an accuracy of 1%.
Loss of bone: treatment
In addition to the use of appropriate medications, a diet rich in vitamin D and calcium plays a very important role in the treatment of bone thinning.
| Products with the highest vitamin D content (per 100 g) | The most calcium is in |
| eel-4700 pg | parmesan (30 g) -336 mg |
| sprats - 1500 pg | milk (glass) -300 mg |
| sardines-1500 ~ ig | orange juice with the addition of calcium (a glass) -300 mg |
| herring - 1000 pg | canned mackerel with bones (85 g) 263 mg |
| red salmon -800 pg | lean yogurt (115g) -225 mg |
| pink salmon-500 pg | canned salmon with bones (85 g) 191 mg |
| mackerel-500 pg | boiled kohlrabi (85 g) 179 mg |
| tuna-200 pg | dried figs (5 pieces) - 135 mg |
| glass of milk 110 pg | soy cheese tofu (115 g) - 118 mg |
| boiled broccoli (85 g) -88 mg | |
| canned beans (170 g) - 80 mg | |
| cooked white beans (85 g) -45 mg |
Loss of bone - it hurts your bones
The body uses only 40 percent of food. calcium - provided that the body has enough vitamin D. As much as 60 percent. calcium is excreted in the urine. It's a normal process, butwe can advantageously change these proportions.
- sodium - when we s alt a lot, not only our heart suffers, but also bones, because sodium leaches calcium from the body. Caffeine increases calcium loss, and this weakens bones. You can afford 2 cups of coffee a day. If you drink more, also drink 3 cups of milk for the sake of the bone
- protein - bones are harmed by its excess, because it accelerates the production and excretion of urine, and with it, we lose large amounts of calcium. But let's not overdo it - protein-rich meat, poultry, fish, peas and beans also provide many other nutrients. For bone he alth, 2-3 portions of protein per day (a piece of fish, sandwich with sausage) are enough. Let's not give up on dairy products, even though it also contains protein
- alcohol - impairs the metabolism of vitamin D, which leads to a reduction in the absorption of calcium from the intestines and excessive excretion of it in the urine. Alcohol also affects bone-forming cells
- powdered soups - they harm the bones, because the phosphorus they contain significantly reduces the concentration of vitamin D in the body