Osteoporosis symptoms, treatment and prevention measures. Osteoporosis: what is, signs, causes What does osteoporosis mean?

Osteoporosis is a complex disease that manifests itself in the destruction of bone tissue. Timely diagnosis of osteoporosis makes it possible to identify the disease at an early stage, when the destruction of the skeletal system has not yet become irreversible. To begin the study, you must first pay attention to a number of symptoms and factors that indicate osteoporosis. After contacting a specialist who prescribes the required tests, a diagnosis is made and proper treatment begins.

Statistics say that bone osteoporosis occurs in 80% of the fairer sex over the age of 55-60 years. Among the causes of the disease are hereditary factors, the influence of hormonal changes, and the presence of other chronic diseases that lead to secondary osteoporosis.

Bone tissue is heterogeneous in its structure, but when it is affected by osteoporosis, in cross-section it resembles a sponge with huge internal cavities. Bone density decreases significantly and becomes brittle. The main negative consequence of bone osteoporosis is frequent fractures.

Among the symptoms of osteoporosis of bone tissue, which appear at an early stage, it is necessary to highlight the following:

• severe pain in the limbs;
• fatigue, physical weakness;
• early appearance of gray hair is one of the main risk factors;
• noticeable plaque;
• presence of periodontal disease;
• tachycardia.

Risk factors influencing the development of osteoporosis

Bone osteoporosis, like many other diseases, can be primary and secondary. Primary affects the bone tissue of women in the postmenstrual period, people of any gender in old age. There is also idiopathic osteoporosis, which destroys bone tissue regardless of age, but the reasons for its development are not yet fully understood.

Secondary osteoporosis develops as a consequence of other serious illnesses. Bone tissue is affected by the development of diseases of the endocrine system and digestive tract, due to which the level of absorption of phosphorus and calcium in the body decreases. Oncological diseases, or more precisely their treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, also often lead to the destruction of bone tissue.

Knowing about all the above risk factors leading to osteoporosis, it is easier to assess your condition. Each of us must take responsibility for our health, not neglect regular medical examinations, and visit a doctor if any atypical symptoms appear.

There are many progressive methods for diagnosing bone osteoporosis. They all involve determining bone density. Such studies are carried out in modern clinics or equipped laboratories. Doctors rely on the results of the following methods for diagnosing osteoporosis:

• identification of risk factors during the initial examination and history taking;
• radiography;
• osteodensitometry;
• absorptiometry;
• bone peripheral densitometry;
• ultrasound examination;
• CT, MRI;
• laboratory diagnostics based on blood tests.

These studies are carried out separately or in combination to determine the disease, the degree of damage to bone tissue, and the possibilities for its restoration. Diagnosing osteoporosis is a long process, because it is not always possible to identify the factors affecting bone tissue immediately.

Initial examination of the patient

Already during the patient’s first visit to a specialist, the doctor makes certain conclusions about the health of the skeletal system. He is interested in the symptoms of osteoporosis that brought the patient to the hospital, and asks about the patient’s lifestyle. All this is necessary to make a preliminary diagnosis and prescribe all subsequent studies.

The doctor asks how the patient eats, whether he has bad habits and other chronic diseases. This information is very important because the patient’s answers can help determine whether he or she has osteoporosis. The final diagnosis is made only after conducting various studies. Correct diagnosis of bone tissue allows you to determine its density and the most “weak spots”.

X-ray is a study of osteoporosis that allows you to determine the condition of bone tissue in the body. Penetrating into the body, X-rays are partially absorbed by the bones and partially reflected. At this time, an image of internal organs and systems is formed. This diagnosis has been used since the mid-twentieth century. Its advantage is the low cost of research. The main disadvantage is the negative impact of ion radiation on the human body. It is not advisable for children to undergo radiography; it is contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women with impaired bone tissue integrity.

Sometimes the doctor prescribes an examination of the whole body using this method, but in most cases the diagnosis is carried out on a part of the body. Experts know that the disease most often affects the extremities. The most common negative consequence of osteoporosis is a hip fracture. Therefore, radiographic diagnostic methods are advisable in this limited area.

No preliminary preparation is required for the study of bone osteoporosis. You need to make an appointment with a specialist and present a referral from your doctor. The patient receives the diagnostic results immediately along with all the necessary transcripts.

Osteodensitometry is the most popular examination method

One of the types of x-ray examination of osteoporosis is osteodensitometry. It is carried out using special devices - densitometers. A certain dose of x-rays is passed through the body. The specialist evaluates how intensively they are absorbed by bone tissue. Based on the results obtained, conclusions are drawn about the presence or absence of osteoporosis.

Compared to conventional radiography, this method of studying bone osteoporosis is more promising because the procedure is carried out quickly and the harm caused to the body is minimal. The effectiveness and accuracy of the research is high. This method is non-invasive. To obtain the required data, you do not need to do punctures or other painful procedures. Osteodensitometry or DEXA is the standard method for diagnosing bone osteoporosis, used everywhere.

Absorptiometry is a type of osteodensitometry, the difference between this study of osteoporosis is that two x-rays are used to determine bone density. The accuracy of this method is high, it is safe, but with its help it is impossible to detect abnormalities in the development of small bones and joints.

Bone peripheral densitometry – examination of small bones

Bone peripheral densitometry is a study that allows you to identify signs of osteoporosis in small bones. It is carried out using a compact, safe device. With its help, bone tissue density, deviation from the norm, and the rate of pathological changes are determined. The specialist evaluates the results, the dynamics of bone tissue destruction, and determines the stage of development of osteoporosis.

If the disease has already been identified, it is important to determine where exactly it has already left its mark. Bone tissue is affected throughout the body, but in some places these changes are still minor, while in other places they can lead to serious consequences. To prescribe the correct treatment, it is necessary to examine the entire body.

Using ultrasound to detect osteoporosis

Ultrasound examination is performed for those patients who, for certain reasons, cannot be prescribed radiographic methods. Ultrasound also shows manifestations of osteoporosis and destruction of bone tissue. In addition to bone density, in this way you can determine the level of its elasticity, the thickness of the outer layer, and the microstructure of bone tissue.

This method is effective, but doctors do not make a final diagnosis based only on its results, so ultrasound examination is a concomitant way to determine osteoporosis of bone tissue. It has no contraindications and is approved for children and pregnant women. Its cost is higher than radiography. Ion radiation is not used here, so you do not have to worry about the consequences of the diagnosis.

Progressive methods of functional hardware diagnostics

CT and MRI are among the most progressive methods of examining patients with osteoporosis of bone tissue. If a small amount of ion radiation is used during computed tomography, then magnetic resonance imaging is an absolutely safe diagnostic method. Its only drawback is the high cost of the examination, which is why MRI machines are installed in large private diagnostic centers. This method allows you to evaluate changes in bone structure over time and determine the results of treatment.

In addition to all of the above diagnostic methods, the doctor also prescribes biochemical blood tests to assess the level of trace elements in the body. Correct diagnosis is the key to a speedy recovery; special attention should be paid to this stage of treatment.

(literally: porous bone) is a progressive decrease in bone density, resulting in decreased bone strength. This disease affects all the bones of the skeleton at the same time, which leads to the risk of fractures in the simplest life situations, under the most ordinary loads.

Our bones contain minerals, particularly calcium and phosphorus, which give our bones their hardness and density. Osteoporosis is characterized by a decrease in the content of these minerals in all bones of the skeleton, due to their “washing out”.

Causes of osteoporosis

The reason for this is hormonal and metabolic disorders. With osteoporosis, bones become porous like a sponge, as a result of which their strength is significantly reduced.

From a physics point of view, this process can be characterized as a decrease in bone density. In medicine, there is a special term to refer to this process - Osteopenia.

Until approximately 25-30 years of age, a person’s bone density increases, reaching its peak at 30-35 years of age. After this, the reverse process begins - bone density begins to decrease. This process does not develop in the same way for everyone and depends on many factors.

Research by scientists has shown that in Russia every third woman and every fifth man over 50 years of age suffer from this disease. Because of it, many, having received a fracture in old age, die within six months, and the majority remain bedridden forever.

The consequences of the development of osteoporosis, in the form of fractures of the vertebral bodies and long bones, cause a significant increase in morbidity and mortality among the elderly.

The main reasons that can lead to the development of osteoporosis are:

Groups at risk of developing osteoporosis

Women

• fragile build with fair skin;
• childless or having no more than 2 children;
• with a family history of vertebral or hip fractures;
• with early or artificial menopause.

Persons with various diseases that can cause secondary osteoporosis

• Itsenko-Cushing's disease and syndrome,
• thyrotoxicosis,
• diabetes mellitus type I,
• rheumatoid arthritis,
• conditions after gastric resection,
• chronic liver diseases,
• chronic renal failure, etc.

People taking medications that cause weight loss as a side effect

• glucocorticosteroids,
• anticonvulsants,
• immunosuppressants,
• aluminum containing antacids,
• gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists.

Types of Osteoporosis

There are two main types of osteoporosis: primary and secondary.

Primary (involutional, postmenopausal, senile or senile) osteoporosis

Primary osteoporosis usually develops in old age (after 50 years). Risk factors for primary osteoporosis include:

• elderly age;
• fragile physique;
• small height;
• indications of fractures in the family history;
• late onset of menstruation (after 15 years);
• early cessation of menstruation (before 50 years);
• scanty and infrequent menstruation;
• infertility;
• long-term lactation (more than 6 months).

Primary osteoporosis develops in women 4-5 times more often than in men.

Secondary osteoporosis

Secondary osteoporosis is most often a consequence of disturbances in metabolic, endocrine or hormonal processes in the body. Calcium metabolism disorders can occur due to:

• poor nutrition;
• alcohol abuse, smoking, coffee;
• use of medications;
• forced lack of physical activity;
• chronic renal failure;
• overactive thyroid gland;
• diabetes mellitus;
• decreased ovarian function (in women);
• strengthening the function of the adrenal cortex

Signs and symptoms of osteoporosis

Since this disease is so insidious that it is asymptomatic until the moment when changes in bone tissue become almost irreversible, a reasonable question arises: are there any indirect signs by which one can determine the onset of the development of osteoporosis?

There are a number of indirect signs of the development of osteoporosis and decreased bone density.

First of all, this is growth. A change (decrease) in height by more than 1-1.5 cm is a serious signal to contact a specialist.

Another indirect sign of osteoporosis is deterioration of posture. Any curvature of the spine is also a serious signal.

In other cases, the most common symptoms of osteoporosis are characteristic pain in the thoracic and lumbar spine. The pain intensifies after slight physical activity and prolonged stay in one position.

Most patients with osteoporosis complain of a significant decrease in performance and increased fatigue.

Descriptions of symptoms of osteoporosis

Diagnosis of osteoporosis

The method of diagnosing osteoporosis by determining the level of calcium in the blood has no basis. The fact is that with osteoporosis, as a rule, the level of calcium in the blood remains normal. Moreover, normal calcium levels are often maintained precisely by “washing out” it from bone tissue.

Modern medicine has a fairly effective method for recognizing osteoporosis at its earliest stages, when the decrease in bone density does not exceed 3-5%. This method is called bone densitometry. This is an ultrasound diagnosis of bone tissue. On an x-ray, unfortunately, it is possible to distinguish changes caused by osteoporosis only when there is a “loss” of 15-20% of bone tissue.

We advise you to seek advice from a specialist if you have had two or more fractures after the age of 40. If you experience any pain or discomfort in your bones, you should also immediately consult a specialist about osteoporosis.

Women should definitely undergo bone densitometry 1-2 years after menopause. The main thing to remember is that osteoporosis is much easier to prevent than to treat.

It also wouldn’t hurt to get tested for symptoms of bone tissue destruction (weakening) for those who have a family history of osteoporosis.

Prevention of osteoporosis

A huge role in the prevention of osteoporosis is played by giving up bad habits such as smoking and alcohol abuse.

Physical activity

Physical activity and sufficient load on all bones of the skeleton is one of the main and very effective methods of preventing a decrease in bone density (osteopenia). Bone density directly depends on the physical load on the bones. The most rapid decrease in bone mass was observed in astronauts, in conditions of weightlessness, and in people “bedridden.”

Those. for those who are unable to overcome their own body weight. An effective means of preventing osteoporosis are outdoor games and walks in the fresh air. It is very useful to take the stairs to your floor rather than the elevator. Without exception, all the “benefits” of modern civilization are at the same time accomplices of osteoporosis.

An interesting observation: athletes whose sports involve unequal loads on different parts of the body experience an increase in bone tissue density in the working limbs: the pushing leg of jumpers, the striking arm of tennis players, etc.

Nutrition

Another important factor in preventing osteoporosis is maintaining food hygiene. A rational and balanced diet is a necessary factor for the normal functioning of the digestive system, proper metabolism and strengthening the immune system.

The main cause of osteoporosis is a violation of metabolic and hormonal processes in the body. It has been proven that in women, with the birth of each subsequent child, the likelihood of developing osteoporosis decreases by approximately 10-15%. This is due to the fact that during pregnancy the body of the expectant mother is intensively “renewed”.

The use of increased doses of calcium recommended by official medicine, as a rule, does not bring tangible results. This is due to the fact that this calcium is simply not absorbed by the body. But it can “successfully” be deposited in the liver, kidneys and bladder, as stones.

It is a misconception to believe that the cause of osteoporosis lies in a lack of calcium. Calcium entering the body with natural products, with a well-designed diet, is quite enough for a person. Products useful for osteoporosis:

• all varieties of cabbage, especially broccoli;
• all types of nuts;
• whole grain products from all types of cereals and legumes;
• fermented milk products (natural);
• all dried fruits, especially dried apricots and prunes;
• various greens, especially spinach;
• fresh vegetables and fruits, without exception.

Prevention of osteoporosis in women

Osteoporosis in women includes the following preventive measures.

Proper balanced nutrition and medications that need to be added to food. Food should contain large amounts of calcium and vitamin D3: dairy products, fish, nuts, greens. The daily requirement for calcium is 1000 mg, for vitamin D3 - 400 IU. During pregnancy and lactation, these standards increase.

Sometimes women who learn about the disease begin to be overly wary of physical activity. But movement is one of the prerequisites not only for the prevention, but also for the treatment of this disease. Numerous studies have confirmed that a sedentary lifestyle contributes to bone loss.

Of course, you shouldn’t go into excess and take on excessive loads. As a preventive measure, you can do morning exercises for a quarter of an hour, attend a health group two or three times a week, and take a walk before bed.

Treatment of osteoporosis

Which doctors should I contact if I have osteoporosis?

Currently, there is a wide range of drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis, more or less meeting the criteria for the effectiveness of therapy.

For the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, depending on its severity and severity, bisphosphonates, calcitonin, fluorides, and active metabolites of vitamin D are prescribed.

With endogenous hypercortisolism (Itsenko-Cushing disease or syndrome), a pronounced degree of osteoporosis with compression fractures of the vertebral bodies and rib fractures is often observed. In the active phase of the disease, vigorous treatment of osteoporosis is required; in cases of severe pain, the drug of choice is calcitonin, used simultaneously with calcium salts and vitamin D preparations.

For postmenopausal osteoporosis, it is also recommended to prescribe calcitonin in a dose of 100 IU (parenterally), and if the effect is achieved, 50-100 IU parenterally or 100-200 IU every other day in the form of an intranasal aerosol.

In the treatment of secondary osteoporosis (in particular, steroid osteoporosis), antiresorptive drugs and vitamin D preparations are most widely used. The use of sodium fluoride led to an increase in BMD in the lumbar spine by 4.9% after 6 months in the first case, and 410% after 9 months in the second case. second.

Additional prescriptions of vitamin D preparations (alfacalcidol) to calcitonin and calcium carbonate preparations lead to the normalization of calcium in the blood and prevent hypocalcemia.

Thus, currently there is a whole arsenal of means with the help of which the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis is carried out. The doctor’s task is to adequately select drugs, their combinations, and treatment regimens.

It must be remembered that osteoporosis is a disease that reverses very slowly and it is necessary to monitor BMD once every 6-12 months and/or markers of bone resorption to assess the effectiveness of treatment.

Instructions for the use of drugs for osteoporosis

Treatment of osteoporosis with folk remedies

In folk medicine there are enough remedies for the treatment of osteoporosis. It is necessary to add more nuts, vegetables and grains to the diet, as well as reduce or completely stop smoking, alcohol, coffee and tea.

Diet for osteoporosis

Even if the disease in question was diagnosed at an early stage of development, the patient has undergone full drug treatment and uses traditional medicine in treatment, it is necessary to constantly adhere to a diet.

Patients diagnosed with osteoporosis should exclude from the diet:

Doctors recommend minimizing the consumption of unrefined vegetable oil and melted butter. In addition, it is imperative to limit the consumption of protein products - no more than 200 g per day is allowed. Since osteoporosis occurs against the background of metabolic disorders, it is necessary to limit the intake of sodium into the body - this will normalize water-salt metabolism. For example, it is better to refuse:

• sausages, frankfurters and any prepared meat products;
• fast food;
• semi-finished products;
• chips/crackers;
• marinades and pickles.

In general, the diet for osteoporosis is varied. There is a certain list of permitted products that must be of high quality and prepared in a gentle way.

Approved products for osteoporosis include:

Fish

It is necessary to include both river and sea fish in the diet, since they have different compositions. You should not fry it, it is better to boil it, steam it or stew it.

Seafood

Shrimp, mussels, octopus, squid - these representatives of the marine world have a fairly high amount of calcium in their chemical composition. As a last resort, you need to regularly consume seaweed - it is also rich in iodine.

Vegetables

Absolutely all types of vegetables are allowed for consumption, including tomatoes, zucchini, and pumpkin. If you like fried vegetables, then use a grill for this, and it is better to prepare stewed vegetables using a minimum amount of vegetable oil.

Eggs

You can eat both chicken and quail eggs - they will be equally useful for people with osteoporosis.

Dairy

There should be no doubt about it - kefir and cottage cheese, sour cream and cream, whey and fermented baked milk are characterized by a high calcium content. But you should pay attention to the fat content of the products - it should be low.

Meat of all kinds

It is very useful to introduce rabbit and turkey into the diet of a patient with osteoporosis.

Other products

• Greens and leafy vegetables.
• Fruits, berries of absolutely all types.
• All types of nuts and seeds.
• All types of mushrooms.
• Legumes.
• Pasta.
• Refined vegetable oils.

Despite such a wide list of permitted products, patients should consult their doctor about adjusting the daily menu.

The fact is that it is necessary to identify individual intolerance to certain types of food. For example, some people cannot eat milk in its pure form - in this case, it can be completely replaced with fermented milk products or soy milk.

Rules for eating as part of a diet for osteoporosis:

• there should be at least 5 meals a day;
• the break between meals should be no more than 3.5 hours;
• You can’t have a mono-diet;
• It is better to eat food prepared at home;
• Replace snacks in cafes with yoghurts and fresh fruits;
• You cannot combine meat and cereals in one dish;
• You can safely eat meat along with vegetables.

Diet alone will not give good results - it should be only one component in the treatment of osteoporosis.

The disease in question is quite complex and dangerous. But this does not mean that you need to despair, go to bed and limit movement as much as possible in order to avoid spontaneous bone fractures.

On the contrary, a moderately active lifestyle, adequate physical activity, drug treatment, diet and traditional medicine will help restore the body’s strength and prolong the joy of physical activity.

Therapeutic exercise for osteoporosis

Patients with osteoporosis should not forget how important it is for them to perform special gymnastics exercises every day. Its main task is to strengthen muscles and maintain normal bone mass.

Gymnastic exercises of this complex, in accordance with the loads exerted, can be divided into 3 types:

When performing exercises, the patient should not overload himself - after all, this is a therapeutic complex, not sports training. You should not make sudden movements or jerks.

More attention should be paid to the correct execution of each exercise and to the moderate rhythm of exercise. To perform the basic exercises of therapeutic exercises, you do not need to go to the gym - they can be performed at home, in a well-ventilated room.

Patients can perform these and other exercises at home. Treatment for osteoporosis will be much more effective if you follow a calcium-enriched diet and perform a set of therapeutic exercises. A good result will be achieved by this combination, used as a disease prevention.

Exercises that are performed systematically over a long period can strengthen muscle and bone tissue, which will significantly increase the patient’s chance of recovery and relief from problems associated with osteoporosis: an increased risk of injury and bone fractures. When starting treatment, you should remember that only those who will be on the road can overcome the road.

Consequences and complications of osteoporosis

Low bone mass itself has no clinical manifestations, so the clinical picture and complications of osteoporosis are associated exclusively with fractures.

Characteristics of osteoporosis are traditionally considered to be a fracture of the proximal femur (primarily the femoral neck), compression deformities of the vertebral bodies and a fracture of the bones of the distal forearm (the so-called radial fracture in a typical location, or Colles fracture).

However, due to a generalized decrease in bone mass throughout the entire skeleton with osteoporosis, absolutely all types of fractures can occur, for example, the distal third of the femur, ribs, humerus, fingers, pelvic bones, etc.

A significant proportion of fractures have an uncomplicated course and end with complete recovery of the patient. However, in many cases, fractures cause pain, bone deformities, limited range of motion, the need for constant medical care, psychological and other problems, leading to a significant decrease in the quality of life, disability and often death.

The most dangerous complications are fractures of the femoral neck, which require hospitalization in 50% of cases, and in 10% of cases - constant home care for the patient throughout the year. 11% of patients who have suffered a hip fracture permanently lose the ability to walk independently and only 30-50% of patients completely restore their physical level.

Compression fractures of the vertebral bodies are found in approximately 36% of older women. About 24% of patients with one or more compression fractures suffer from persistent back pain, and 5% eventually become disabled.

Compression deformities of the vertebrae in a significant proportion of patients cause limitation of physical activity, spinal deformities with the development of thoracic hyperkyphosis (the so-called “widow’s hump”), a significant decrease in height and emotional problems associated with changes in appearance.

Colles's fracture is not as dangerous as the fractures described above, however, even after it, no more than half of the patients fully recover functionally within the first six months. From 29% to 44% of such patients experience severe pain, 36-40% complain of weakness and stiffness in the arm, and 27% have at least one of the symptoms of algodystrophy.

Naturally, constant debilitating pain, immobility and the associated change in the usual lifestyle of patients with fractures lead to the development of psycho-emotional disorders, the most common of which is depression. In addition, quite often in patients with osteoporosis there is a fear of falling and new fractures, decreased mood, and anger.

Severe depression and other astheno-neurotic disorders negatively affect the speed and quality of recovery of patients with fractures. The severity of the consequences of a fracture is also significantly influenced by the patient’s status before the injury - age, health status, degree of social activity, as well as factors beyond the patient’s control, such as the location of the fracture or the presence of postoperative complications.

The fairly high mortality rate characteristic of osteoporosis is primarily associated with a hip fracture - 5-20% of patients die within the first year after the fracture. In most cases, death occurs due to associated concomitant diseases, however, a hip fracture itself reduces life expectancy by 12-20%.

Calcium for bones

To form correct posture, the body needs calcium. It combines with other chemicals and forms specific compounds that form strong bones that can withstand human physical activity.

Calcium plays a very important role in the body. It is necessary for certain enzymes and hormones to carry out biologically active processes. It also affects the development of bone and muscle tissue, the functioning of the nervous system and myocardial cells.

A huge amount of calcium (90%) is found in the bones, the rest of it is in the blood serum. A lack of calcium in the body indicates a lack of calcium in the blood.

Until the age of 18, children begin to form bones, and then, with the onset of adulthood, the reverse process begins, slow, but accelerating with age.

Bone tissue is lost most quickly in females. Therefore, women are more at risk of diseases such as osteoporosis. When it occurs, bones become brittle, which increases the likelihood of cracks and fractures.

Osteoporosis can be primary or secondary. The first is characterized by the fact that its development in the body occurs without external intervention (during the onset of menopause in women).

The second is a consequence of oncological, rheumatological and nephrological diseases or a side effect of taking any medications, such as antibiotics, thyroid hormones, diuretics, etc. With their long-term use, calcium is gradually washed out.

Calcium is necessary for muscle contraction. If there is a lack of this substance in the blood, calcium is borrowed by the body from bone tissue to ensure normal muscle function. This process reflects the importance of the presence of calcium in the body.

Calcium is absorbed into the body due to the presence of vitamin D3. Its reserve can be created by just basking in the sun; 15 minutes will be enough to significantly increase the calcium content in the body.

In the spring, to prepare your skin for real sunbathing, it is advisable to go to the solarium several times.

Vitamin D3 is also found in most dairy products, so if a person is intolerant to milk components, the calcium supply in the body must be restored with special medications.

Questions and Answers on Osteoporosis

Question:Hello. I have osteoporosis and compression fractures of the thoracolumbar spine. Now they are performing vertebroplasty operations. I would like to know with treatment whether there is a chance to recover to the previous state.

Answer: Hello! Reviews about vertebroplasty are good, but osteoporosis must be treated.

Question:I am 67 years old. For several years, to treat osteoporosis, along with the use of calcium supplements, I used myacalcic spray, dihydrotachysterol, etc. But bone density continues to decline. Currently I am being recommended Aklasty injections. Is this treatment contraindicated given that I suffer from atrophic gastritis, pancreatitis and colitis?

Answer: Good afternoon The question of the possibility of prescribing a particular drug is decided strictly individually. Only your attending physician can adequately answer your question. If necessary, cover therapy is prescribed to avoid side effects.

Question:At the age of 22, I was diagnosed with systemic diffuse osteoporosis (along with the diagnosis of sympathetic reflex dystrophy of the right hand, shoulder-hand syndrome), a possible cause of the disease: taking hormonal contraceptives (for a year), as well as long-term restrictive diets. At the moment, the calcium level in the blood is 2 times lower than normal, but no drugs are prescribed or treatment is carried out. Hormone levels are normal (estrogen, testosterone, cortisol, T3, T4). What can be done now to slow down the destruction of bone tissue?

Answer: Hello. Treatment of osteoporosis is carried out with calcium and vitamin D preparations. Combination preparations containing both active components (calcium and vitamin D) are very convenient. In addition to drug treatment, the diet and quality of diet should be changed. Food should be high in calories and contain all the nutrients the body needs.

Question:Hello. A 60-year-old man smokes a lot, drinks alcohol, drugs from the alpha blocker group, and has a sedentary lifestyle. What medications besides calcium supplements should I take?

Answer: Hello, firstly, you need to reduce your alcohol consumption as much as possible and restore normal nutrition, since hypovitaminosis is often observed with alcoholism. For specific prevention of osteoporosis, you need to take combined calcium and vitamin D3 preparations.

Question:My mother-in-law's bones began to deteriorate. As the last picture showed, the bones became soft. The doctors didn’t even give me the picture right away - they were afraid to tell me the terrible diagnosis. Specifically, the bones of the collarbone and shoulder are destroyed. Tell me how to stop the destruction, strengthen the bones and bring them back to normal?

Answer: It all depends on the cause of bone destruction - if it is senile osteoporosis, then the best treatment would be Bonviva) + calcium supplements for the entire period of treatment with Bonviva. What do doctors say about the causes of bone destruction? Also tell me, were the functions of the thyroid and parathyroid glands and kidneys checked? If not, then be sure to carry out these examinations.

Question:Hello, please tell me. My mother fell ill with vasculitis several years later, she was diagnosed with ostiopenia, and now she has osteoparosis. When she didn’t yet know that she had osteoparosis, she visited a chiropractor and he set her vertebrae. Now she has done a tomogram of the entire spine. She was diagnosed with Morle's hernia. What it is??? Intervertebral hernias have a tendency to fracture bones and the spine. Mom was also told to do doxemetry for what?

Answer: Schmorl's hernia is one of the variants of intervertebral disc herniation, in which part of the disc goes deep into the vertebral body and destroys it. Your mother was absolutely correctly prescribed Densitometry. This examination is necessary to determine her bone density and plan treatment. Apparently, your mother needs complex treatment with drugs that restore bone tissue. For example, a course of Bonviva + calcium supplements. Your doctor will prescribe the exact treatment for you after examination.

Question:My eight year old child was diagnosed with osteoporosis, is this disease curable?

Answer: Osteoporosis or osteopenia (bone density deficiency) in children develops as a consequence of other diseases, for example, connective tissue pathology, endocrine diseases, progressive myositis ossificans, and prolonged immobilization. This condition requires a comprehensive approach, starting with identifying and treating its causes, correcting bone density with medications, continuing with a diet rich in calcium, and age-appropriate physical activity. Treatment and monitoring of its effectiveness is carried out under the supervision of an orthopedist.

Question:My mother, she is 81 years old, has a compression fracture of the 1st and 4th vertebrae, she has an MRI, I would like to know how to treat it. In bed rest, nothing hurts at all, but as soon as you get terrible pain in the sacrum of the spine, how to relieve the pain and cure your mother.

Answer: For a fracture of the sacral spine, parasacral blockade with novocaine is used for pain relief. Immobilization on a backboard in a position that helps unload the sacrum for 2-3 weeks, sitting is allowed after 1-2 months, full recovery occurs after 2-2.5 months. During the recovery period, physiotherapy and exercise therapy are indicated. Attention should also be paid to the treatment of osteoporosis.

Question:Hello! My name is Anya, I’m 17. A year ago I was hit by a car, and there were serious fractures in my left leg at the hip and tibia. Now, a year later, everything seems to have healed, but the plaster has not yet been removed, since the fracture on the lower leg has not healed completely, and osteoporosis has begun to develop there. Now I have a splint, I stretch my leg and work it out. Please advise how to get rid of osteoporosis in the shortest possible time and have the fracture heal?

Answer: Osteoporosis is a bone pathology in which bone tissue loses calcium; as a result, bones become less strong and are prone to fractures. For the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, calcium supplements are used in combination with vitamin D. The dosage is selected by the doctor individually. Treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a physician with monitoring (x-ray or using a densitometer).

Question:Hello! Mom is 87 years old. She has rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis (femoral neck fracture 12 years ago), polymyalgia. 10 years ago I took prednisolone for treatment according to the regimen, but now is it possible to take prednisolone again for all her diseases (now the pain is quite strong, which is constantly relieved by diclofenac and that’s all, weight - 45 kg, moves on crutches, but is quite active for her age and diseases)?

Answer: The issue of taking prednisolone must be resolved with the treating rheumatologist (this drug has dangerous side effects), therefore it is prescribed after medical consultation with a specialist in individual dosages.

Question:For the treatment of osteoporosis, does the Nuga-Best massage bed help or harm?

Answer: The Nuga Best massage bed is not recommended in cases where the patient has osteoporosis in the last stage. If osteoporosis is mild, then you can take the procedure.

Content

Aching joints due to the weather, constant pain in the lower back, brittle nails and hair - such symptoms may not always be harmless, as is commonly believed. Sometimes these are the first signs of incipient osteoporosis. In order to see a doctor on time and stop the course of the disease, it is important to know about the risk factors and methods of treating the disease.

What is osteoporosis

Osteoporosis – what is it? The answer to this topical question in recent years can be in several ways. A smart medical reference book will tell you about the diagnosis of osteoporosis - that it is the liquefaction of bone tissue due to excessive leaching of calcium with subsequent destruction of the internal structure of the bone. Translated into understandable language, osteopenia is a systemic disease that over time leads to brittle bones, frequent fractures of the arms or legs, hip joints and other parts of the body.

Bones

In an absolutely healthy person, the bones are covered with a dense cortical shell, but inside they consist of spongy tissue. When phosphorus-calcium metabolism is disrupted, the inner layer is destroyed, and the bone plates become thinner or disappear altogether. Such structural changes significantly reduce the resistance of the bone to physical stress. Bone osteoporosis can affect all parts of the body, for example, the spine or joints, but more often the sella turcica, hip, humerus, radius, and ulna bones are subject to reverse regression.

Spine

Osteoporosis of the spine can affect both adults and children. This is not a separate disease, but only a severe degree of the underlying disease. The spinal column is designed to maintain the correct balance of the body, its vertical and horizontal position; when bone tissue is destroyed, these functions are not supported by the body. The following signs will tell you that this is a bone disease of the spine:

• significant and sharp decrease in growth;
• local pain upon palpation of the vertebrae;
• acute pain when turning or bending the body;
• change in posture.

Joints

Connective tissue disease or joint osteoporosis – what is it then? Doctors talk about this when calcium is washed out of the body too quickly, but not only bones, but also cartilage or periarticular tissue are subject to degenerative changes in the structure of tissues. Most often, osteoporosis of the joints affects the knee, hip, and ankle bones, that is, those parts of the body that bear the greatest load.

Causes

It is important not only to know what osteoporosis is, but also to be able to distinguish different forms of the disease from each other. There is diffuse osteoporosis, which affects all parts of the body at once; it is rare in older people. Partial destruction of bones or cartilage affects only the weakest parts of the human body. It can be diagnosed in people of different ages. This classification of bone disease allows us to divide risk factors into idiopathic, which appear on their own, and controllable, those that can be avoided.

Idiopathic roots of the disease should be sought:

• in heredity;
• belonging to the Eurasian race;
• in women in early menopause, late onset of menstruation;
• infertility in both women and men;
• with high stature and low body weight.

Causes of osteoporosis that can be influenced from outside:

• smoking and alcohol;
• passive lifestyle;
• diseases in the chronic stage;
• poor nutrition;
• vitamin D deficiency as a result of living in northern regions where there is not enough sunlight;
• long-term use of steroid, anticonvulsant, blood thinning drugs.

There is a third reason for changes in cartilage and bone tissue - chronic diseases: this can be inflammation of the intestines, liver or kidney diseases, as well as Cushing's syndrome or Crohn's disease. Nervous disorders such as bulimia or anorexia often lead to structural changes in bones. In any case, it is almost useless to establish the cause yourself. Only a qualified doctor, based on test results, can find the original source of the disease.

Signs and symptoms

The primary symptoms of osteoporosis are difficult to identify, which is why the disease is often called the “silent killer.” A person learns that bone tissue has become brittle and brittle after a broken limb. The question arises: how to check the condition of bones for osteoporosis? It is worth addressing the secondary signs:

• stoop, senile hunchback;
• decrease in height by 3-5 cm per year;
• aches in the body and joints.

Among women

In addition, you need to know about osteoporosis - what else is an age-related female disease that affects the fair sex from the age of 45 years. The reason is a sharp decrease in the production of sex hormones estrogen due to entry into the postmenopausal period, but they take an active part in strengthening bone tissue. Finding signs of osteoporosis in women over 50 is not so easy. The disease is successfully masked under the guise of minor symptoms:

• excessive hair loss, baldness;
• fragility and brittleness of nail plates;
• dental problems: destruction of enamel, caries, periodontal disease;
• voluntary muscle contraction at night.

In children

Osteoporosis in children can be congenital or acquired. In utero the disease can develop for the following reasons:

• prematurity;
• short period between repeated births;
• chronic diseases of the mother;
• multiple pregnancy.

The reason for the development of secondary childhood osteoporosis of bones is:

• artificial feeding;
• lack of ultraviolet radiation;
• calcium deficiency;
• disruption of the intestinal absorption of nutrients.

If your baby is significantly inferior in height to his peers, has a curvature of the spinal ridge, poor posture, gets tired quickly, often complains of aching back pain, or asymmetric skin folds are clearly visible on the surface of the body, consult a doctor immediately. With timely diagnosis and proper treatment, the symptoms of the disease can be successfully stopped.

How to treat osteoporosis

In any case, in order for the doctor to diagnose osteoporosis and prescribe its treatment on time, the patient will have to undergo fluorography, donate blood for tumor markers, and undergo a test for bone mineral density. If, based on the results of all the tests, it has become clear that this is not another pathology, but a bone disease, the doctor will select the correct complex therapy, including nutritional correction, taking medications, vitamins D, calcium and the use of folk remedies.

Diet

Our body is almost 100% made up of what we eat, so proper nutrition is the key to good health. It is a mistake to think that to maintain bone integrity it is important to consume a lot of calcium, and in its pure form. The main condition is that the diet for osteoporosis should be balanced and include those foods that help calcium to be better absorbed:

• dairy products;
• fish;
• greenery;
• eggs;
• barley and oatmeal;
• nuts;
• cabbage, carrots, cucumbers.

Treatment with folk remedies

There are several options for treating bone osteoporosis with folk remedies:

• take 1 mummy ball twice a day;
• eat 3 grams of egg powder every morning with milk or oatmeal;
• drink alcoholic tinctures from common pine nuts or walnuts, 1/3 tbsp. 2 times a day;
• massage with warming oils;
• apply compresses from sweet clover, chamomile, and birch buds.

The list of beneficial herbs and medicinal plants is wide, but you must understand that not all of them can be used to treat bone disease. For example, natural foods that contain oxalic acid will only worsen the course of the disease. You should not take this or that collection if you are not entirely sure of its composition; it is better to ask the opinion of a homeopath or therapist before starting treatment.

Drugs

Bone tissue tends to renew itself regularly, this happens thanks to the work of two types of cells: osteoclasts and osteoblasts. The first are builders, the second are destroyers. If the number of osteoblasts exceeds the norm, the bone tissue becomes deformed. To prevent this from happening, special drugs for osteoporosis were developed - bisphosphonates. Medicines are available in several forms:

• Tablets - need to be taken every day at the same time.
• Suspensions - an injection is given once every six months.
• Droppers - to maintain tissue density, the procedure will need to be repeated once a year.

Which doctor should I contact?

Who treats osteoporosis? The diagnosis is made by a traumatologist-orthopedist with the assistance of laboratory workers and a radiologist. In cases where nerve endings suffer due to bone tissue disorders, a neurologist must be involved in the work. If bone destruction is a consequence of exacerbation of chronic diseases, then specialists of other categories will be needed.

Gymnastics and exercise therapy

Light exercises will help strengthen the spine, bone tissue, improve blood circulation, and slow down the spread of the disease. You can start doing exercise therapy for osteoporosis at any age, the main thing is not to overdo it, but do home exercises regularly several times a day:

• Raise your arms to the sides while holding dumbbells.
• Gently bend and straighten your hands, then your elbows and shoulders.
• Walk in place, lifting your feet high and holding onto the back of the chair for balance.
• Bend and straighten your knees while sitting on a chair.

Prevention

• Check with your doctor for a diagnosis and eliminate risk factors.
• Drink calcium supplements and vitamin complexes.
• Have an annual examination with a doctor, take tests, take x-rays.
• To prevent osteoporosis, you need to quit smoking and stop drinking alcohol frequently.
• Balance your diet.

Absorption of calcium in the body

Remember that calcium is very important for bones. Do not deny yourself the consumption of dairy products, eat cottage cheese often, cook eggs for breakfast, and cereal porridge for lunch and dinner. To completely protect yourself from the destruction of cartilage, bones and joints, take vitamin D complexes, but do this under the supervision of a doctor. Vitamins of this group not only improve the absorption of calcium by the body by 40%, but also normalize its interaction with other nutrients.

Video

Attention! The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials in the article do not encourage self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and give treatment recommendations based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

Discuss

Osteoporosis - what is this disease, causes and symptoms

Osteoporosis is a skeletal pathology, the course of which is accompanied by changes in bone structure. Frequent diagnosis of the disease is due to the absence of any clinical manifestations in the initial stages of development. Therefore, it is detected when fractures have already occurred. When choosing treatment tactics for osteoporosis, the severity of symptoms, the degree of destruction of bone tissue, and the cause of occurrence are taken into account.

What is osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a systemic disease caused by the predominance of destructive processes over restorative ones. As a result of an imbalance in biochemical reactions, bone tissue loses the ability to retain calcium, so it is quickly eliminated from the body. Bone fragility increases, which causes frequent spontaneous fractures. They are caused by awkward movements, minor bruises, falls, and minor mechanical impacts.

Classification

The classification is based on the factors that caused the development of the disease. This division into main types is also due to the emerging deficiency of microelements, biologically active substances necessary for rapid and complete regeneration of bone tissue. The belonging of a disease to one of the groups is a criterion that determines treatment tactics.

Primary

The most commonly diagnosed type of primary osteoporosis is postmenopausal, which develops during natural menopause. Senile pathology is detected in elderly patients and the elderly. In this case, the prerequisites for increased bone fragility are a slowdown in regeneration processes and a decrease in the body’s production of substances for building bone structures.

Primary osteoporosis also includes juvenile osteoporosis, which affects children and adolescents. One of the possible reasons for their development is a deficiency of calcium and vitamin D. Idiopathic pathology is found mainly in men 20-50 years old, and the difficulties of its treatment lie in the as yet unknown cause of bone resorption (decreased density).

Secondary

This group includes osteoporosis that developed against the background of other diseases. Most often, an increase is observed with the progression of rheumatological pathologies, for example.

It can be provoked by an endocrine imbalance, characteristic of a decrease in the functional activity of the endocrine glands, especially the adrenal glands and the thyroid gland.

Stages of development

The effectiveness of treatment depends on the severity of the disease, which is revealed during radiographic diagnostics -. It is aimed at determining bone mineral density and allows assessing the risk of disease progression.

Causes of pathology

The development of osteoporosis can be provoked by pathological conditions in which there is inadequate absorption (absorption) of microelements, fat- and water-soluble vitamins. A sedentary lifestyle and low physical activity lead to deterioration of blood supply to tissues and metabolic disorders. Causes of increased bone fragility also include:

• hormonal imbalance, increase or decrease in the production of bioactive substances involved in metabolic processes or regulating them;
• severe pathologies of the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system;
• hematopoietic disorders;
• drinking large amounts of carbonated drinks, which accelerate the removal of calcium from the body;
• rheumatic pathologies.

The likelihood of bone demineralization increases with prolonged immobilization after fractures, injuries of the ligamentous-tendon apparatus, and with relapses. Such conditions lead to the activation of osteoclasts, which soften bone tissue.

In men

The risk of developing pathology is increased in men with insufficient testosterone levels. This decrease in hormone production is called hypogonadism - testicular failure, clinically manifested by an excessively high-pitched voice, lack of hair on the face and body. Bones also become fragile in prostate cancer due to a lack of calcium and the use of drugs for treatment that disrupt the metabolism of this microelement, causing its rapid elimination from the body.

Osteoporosis can be provoked by alcohol abuse and smoking. Ethyl alcohol, nicotine, and tobacco tar worsen the condition of blood vessels and the blood supply to tissues with nutrients.

Among women

In some cases, bone restoration slows down with prolonged breastfeeding, multiple pregnancies, or a large number of births. , the likelihood of developing osteoporosis is very high. After the onset of natural menopause, the production of estrogen decreases, and it is these sex hormones that are responsible for bone regeneration. The following conditions become prerequisites for increased skeletal fragility:

• various menstrual cycle disorders;
• infertility;
• the onset of menstruation only after 15 years;
• early onset of menopause (before 50 years).

Provoking factors also include insufficient intake of calcium from food. And this often happens to women who follow one-component diets.

Symptoms of the disease

Osteoporosis in most cases develops slowly, so it does not appear clinically for a long time. Occasionally, discomfort occurs, localized or in different areas. The patient's height gradually decreases, and stiffness is often felt when bending or turning the body. Posture (stoop) changes, and over time, gait. The following symptoms are also characteristic of osteoporosis:

• fatigue even when doing normal housework;
• during sleep, convulsive muscle contractions of the legs;
• aching in the spinal column due to hypothermia, minor physical exertion, or sudden changes in weather.

The most pronounced symptoms of the disease that occur at the stage of severe loss of bone tissue are fractures. Typically the vertebral bodies or radius are damaged. But the most dangerous is a fracture of the femoral neck, which is difficult to treat in elderly patients and the elderly.

Which doctor treats osteoporosis

Often patients come to the traumatologist with fractures. Before treatment, they are shown an X-ray examination, the results of which reveal the disease. Subsequent diagnostics make it possible to detect the cause of its development. If osteoporosis is caused by a decrease or increase in hormone levels, the patient is sent to an endocrinologist for further treatment. The treatment of rheumatic pathologies will be carried out by a rheumatologist or orthopedist.

Sometimes a person realizes that his health is not all right in the initial stages of the disease. In this case, it is advisable to consult a therapist. After studying the diagnostic results, he will refer the patient to a specialist doctor.

Diagnostics

The most well-known and frequently used method for diagnosing osteoporosis is radiography. But it is informative only when 1/3 of bone mass is lost. At this stage, treatment is no longer effective. Requires long-term use, which has a negative effect on internal organs. Recently, more modern diagnostic methods have been used to detect pathology in the early stages.

Instrumental research methods

Computer tomographs equipped with special attachments can detect bone resorption in the initial stages. But to recreate a complete picture of the changes that have occurred, it is necessary to examine several areas of the patient’s body. This takes a lot of time and is not cheap, so doctors prefer to use single-photon, two-photon, and ultrasound densitometry.

Highly sensitive methods are based on measuring the level of calcium in bone tissue, helping to assess their density, strength, and the likelihood of potential fractures.

Laboratory research

Clinical blood and urine tests are performed to assess the patient's general health. Additional laboratory tests are also indicated to determine the content of calcium, phosphorus, and ergocalciferol. The level of electrolytes is detected in the urine, and in the blood - osteocalcin, which is formed in osteoblasts. The excretory functions of the kidneys are assessed to provide a complete picture of the disease and determine the optimal treatment tactics.

How to treat osteoporosis

Therapy consists of slowing its progression as much as possible, improving the patient’s well-being, and reducing the risk of spontaneous fractures. Treatment uses drugs from various clinical and pharmacological groups to eliminate the cause of osteoporosis and increase bone strength.

In case of serious hip injuries, patients are immediately offered surgery. Only installation helps improve the quality of life and prolong it.

Drug treatment

Patients’ therapeutic regimens also include combination products with vitamin D. Balanced complexes of water-, fat-soluble, microelements (Nutrimaks, Complivit, Kaltsinova) are also prescribed to prevent the progression of the disease.

The first choice drugs are usually (Bonviva, Actonel) that reduce bone resorption. Calcitonin is also used in therapy, slowing down bone loss, helping to increase the content of phosphorus, calcium, and other essential microelements. This drug has analgesic properties and accelerates tissue healing in fractures.

Hormone replacement therapy

This type of therapy is used not only after osteoporosis is diagnosed, but also when conditions that are prerequisites for its development are detected. During menopause, women are prescribed estrogen receptor modulators - Keoxifene, Droloxifene, Raloxifene, Evista. It is noted that it reduces the likelihood of fractures by 50% by slowing bone loss.

To correct hormonal levels, drugs with estrogen (Femoston, Kliogest) are used. When choosing medications, the doctor takes into account the patient’s age, degree of resorption, and the risk of systemic side effects.

Physiotherapy

Immediately after the diagnosis is made and therapeutic tactics are determined, patients are referred to a physical therapy doctor. He studies the results of the examination and, taking into account the degree of bone resorption, physical fitness, and age, makes a calculation. Regular training helps strengthen the muscular framework of the joints and spine. This allows you to minimize the risk of fractures and improve your overall health.

Diet

When the patient’s daily menu should contain foods high in calcium. There is a lot of this microelement in cheeses, cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, seaweed, spinach, beans, and eggplants. Particularly useful is fatty sea fish, which serves as a source of not only calcium, but also polyunsaturated fatty acids. Bioactive substances cleanse blood vessels of cholesterol and improve blood supply to bone structures.

In the absence of contraindications, nutritionists recommend eating soy and products made from it. Her beans contain a lot of magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and calcium.

Folk remedies and recipes

Products made according to do not have a pronounced therapeutic effect, therefore they are used only after the main treatment for preventive purposes. The most famous way to replenish calcium reserves is to eat crushed eggshells with the addition of an equal volume of lemon juice. It is recommended to take a quarter teaspoon of the mixture daily for one month.

Possible complications

Osteoporosis is in fourth place in the number of detected systemic pathologies that provoke disability in the population. It is surpassed only by cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes.

In 40% of patients, a fracture of the femoral neck causes disability, and in 20% it causes death.

Prevention measures

It should start from childhood. It is necessary to include foods high in calcium in the diet, and, if necessary, additionally take vitamin D to promote its absorption. You should stop smoking, drinking alcohol, strong coffee, and tea. These drinks have a diuretic effect and quickly remove calcium from the body.

Forecast

If osteoporosis is detected early, the prognosis is favorable. Proper treatment of pathology of high severity and implementation of preventive measures will slow down or completely stop bone resorption.

Health

As you know, treating advanced stages of osteoporosis is a very difficult matter. In fact, the key to success in the fight against this disease is certain measures to prevent the occurrence and development of osteoporosis. And that is why it is extremely important to identify the disease at an early stage of development, identifying people who are at risk for osteoporosis. It is noteworthy that this disease proceeds quite unnoticed, without obvious symptoms, until suddenly some fracture or crack takes a person by surprise. As a rule, it is then too late to take measures to prevent the disease - it is time for treatment. What, after all, needs to be done to predict an impending disease? without waiting for fractures? The information offered in this article will be extremely useful to those who suspect that they have certain problems with bone tissue, but have not yet decided to visit a doctor due to the absence of obvious signs of osteoporosis.

1. Assessment of clinical risk factors

Clinical risk factors are quite well known not only to specialists dealing with the problem of osteoporosis. We bring to your attention the main factors which any average person can pay attention to.

-- Advanced age.

-- Premature menopause (occurring before age 45).

-- Various cases of decreased levels of sex hormones in men and women.

-- Long-term use of a drug called cortisone (a popular steroid).

-- Previously occurring fractures due to minor injuries and bruises.

-- Alcohol and nicotine addiction.

-- Certain hormonal changes, intestinal diseases or malignant tumors.

-- Excessive thinness.

-- Family history, that is, the presence of direct ancestors who suffered from osteoporosis.

-- Inadequate nutrition, low calcium intake and eating disorders (for example, anorexia, accompanied by aversion to food; or bulimia - a sharply increased feeling of hunger).

Unfortunately, identifying osteoporosis by assessing clinical factors not the most accurate and definitive method, since this disease can also develop in those people who are not at risk for the diseases and disorders listed above. However, these factors are quite enough to come to a certain conclusion, according to which one of the measures that will help identify osteoporosis in the early stages is measuring bone tissue mass.

2. Measuring bone mass

Experts know that low bone mass is directly related to the risk of fractures, which means that measuring bone mass at a given time is best method for predicting fractures. In fact, this activity - measuring bone mass - should be a mandatory part of the program to identify people who are at risk for osteoporosis. It is believed that even fairly well-trained therapists are able to do this. But what will knowledge of the bone tissue mass of a certain person give, without corresponding evaluation criteria, that is, without any accompanying factors? Without such criteria, this is truly a pointless exercise. In fact, there are such criteria, and some of them overlap with the risk factors mentioned above.

Additional criteria for measuring bone mass

-- The presence of other disorders or disorders that are associated with bone tissue; early onset of menopause; reduced levels of sex hormones in both sexes; hormonal disorders, esophageal cancer, nutritional disorders; taking toxic medications.

-- X-ray findings demonstrating the presence of fractures or low bone mass.

-- Happened before atraumatic fractures(fractures that occurred not due to injury, but due to softening of bone tissue).

-- When there is a question about the need to start (or continue) treatment with hormone replacement therapy methods.

-- The presence of obvious factors of long-term influence: hereditary characteristics, alcohol and (or) tobacco addiction, excessive thinness.

In other words, low bone mass along with the above symptoms should be the very alarm bells that clearly indicate the presence of osteoporosis. To measure bone mass, the most popular methods are mainly used, information about which is presented below.

Basic methods for measuring bone mass

-- Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

Don't let this complicated name scare you. In fact, the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) method is one of the most popular (and most accurate) methods for measuring bone mineral density. When measured with this method, X-rays pass through the spine, hips and other parts of the skeleton. The method itself, as mentioned above, is very accurate and painless.

-- CT scan

When using the computed tomography method, the mass of the bones of the spine is measured. It is currently not possible to measure the mass of the hip bones using this method. If we compare the computed tomography (CT) method with the previous method (DXA), then in the case of CT the patient receives a higher dose of radiation; and the data obtained are less accurate.

Additional methods for measuring bone mass

-- X-ray examination

In this case, we are talking about a regular x-ray. It would seem that what could be easier than getting regular x-rays, recording fractures and deformities, and determining the mass of bone tissue? In fact, this method is not accurate enough to be used to record changes in bone mass. As practice shows, bone mass must decrease by 40 percent for these changes to be recorded on an x-ray. And it happens the other way around - an x-ray shows a decrease in bone tissue, but in 25 percent of cases this information is not confirmed.

-- Single-photon absorptiometry

This method allows you to record the size of the bone tissue of the wrists and forearms; This information is often very useful, but the data does not allow us to draw conclusions about the status of bone density in other areas of the skeleton.

-- Ultrasound

Measuring the bone thickness of the heels or shins using this method has some potential. But at this point in time, this method is practically not used to confirm the diagnosis of osteoporosis.

3. Biochemical analysis

A special feature in determining the risk group for osteoporosis is the biochemical analysis, which is carried out on blood and urine samples. The results obtained allow us to monitor the how does the process of so-called bone remodeling take place, that is, the process of bone tissue renewal. As a result, the specialist is able to determine whether bone loss is occurring and whether the person is at risk of fracture. Also, this method is used to determine the effectiveness of certain methods of therapy for the treatment of osteoporosis.