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Osteoporosis |
Osteoporosis |
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| What is Osteoporosis ? |
| Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and loss of bone tissue that leads to weak and fragile bones. If you have osteoporosis, you may be at increased risk for bone fractures (broken bones), particularly in the hip, spine, and wrist. |
| Causes of Osteoporosis |
| Osteoporosis occurs when the body fails to form enough new bone, when too much of the old bone is reabsorbed by the body, or both. The 2 essential minerals for normal bone formation are calcium and phosphate.
If calcium intake is not sufficient or if the body does not absorb enough calcium from the diet, bone production and bone tissues may suffer. |
| Symptoms of Osteoporosis |
| Most people with osteoporosis have no symptoms and are totally unaware that they have the problem. One early sign can be a loss of height caused by curvature or compression of the spine, which is caused by weakened vertebrae (spine bones). |
| Diagnose Osteoporosis |
- X-ray of the bones show thinning of the cortex section of the bone.
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A Whole Body Bone Densitometry Scanning can detect bone density loss. The scan works like a miniature x-ray (with minimal radiation exposure). The bone density of the hip, spine, forearm or the 'whole body' can be checked to diagnose osteoporosis before a debilitating, life-threatening fracture occurs.
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Blood levels of Ca++ and phosphate are usually normal. Hormone levels of the thyroid and parathyroid maybe elevated in some cases.
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