"It is a systemic skeletal disease where bone becomes porous, lower peak bone mass causing excessive bone loss with imminent risk of broken bones."
Types:
- Type 1 or Primary Osteoporosis: Age-related loss of bone from the skeleton.Men belonging to the age group of 45-50, start facing gradual thinning of bones.Women in the age group of 45-55, lose around 2-3% of their bone in the first 5 years of post-menopause due to lack of estrogen.
- Type 2 or secondary osteoporosis: It results due to certain medical conditions like leukaemia or hyperthyroidism.It can occur at any age due to lifestyle behaviour like smoking & also due to medications like corticosteroids which break down bones.
- Brittle bone disease: This is a rare type, occurring in newborns wherein the bones breakdown for no apparent reason.
- Idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis: Risk of fracture is high in 8-14 years old, with no known cause.
Signs and Symptoms:
1. Backache & stiffness
2. Stooped posture
3. Frequent fracture of spine, wrist, hip
4. Gradual loss of height.
Prevention and management:
1. Maintain an active healthy life, exercise regularly.
2. Get a good exposure to sunlight at least 10 minutes a day.
3. Intake of calcium-rich foods like milk, yoghurt, cheese, green leafy vegetables.
4. Prevent falling off or any injury.
5. Abstain from alcohol, smoking.
6. Avoid glucocorticoids[ steroids in arthritic medications].
7. Heavy weight-bearing exercises must be curtailed.