Osteoporosis
Introduction
Anatomy
Your bones are live tissues. They change and grow like the other parts of your body. Most of the bones in your body are composed of the same layered materials.Â
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Am I at Risk
More women than men develop osteoporosis. The condition is more common in people that are Caucasian or Asian. Risk factors may increase your chance of developing osteoporosis. Risk factors include:
_____ Increasing age is a risk factor for osteoporosis. With aging, calcium and phosphate substances that make bones strong, are reabsorbed by the body causing bones to become weaker.
_____Â Decreased estrogen levels in women after menopause increases the risk of osteoporosis.
_____Â Lowered testosterone levels in men with aging increases the risk of osteoporosis.
_____ Excess corticosteroid production from Cushing’s syndrome, hyperthyroidism, and hyperparathyroidism increases the risk of osteoporosis.
_____Â Bone cancer may cause osteoporosis.
_____Â Immobility or being confined to a bed may increase the risk of developing osteoporosis.
_____Â Osteopenia, abnormally low bone density, may lead to osteoporosis.
_____Â People with a family history of osteoporosis have a greater risk of developing osteoporosis.
_____Â Certain medications, such as steroids and anticonvulsants, can cause osteoporosis.
_____Â Absent menstrual periods (amenorrhea) or early menopause may increase the risk of osteoporosis.
_____Â Smoking and heavy alcohol consumption increases the risk of osteoporosis.
_____Â Eating disorders and low body weight increase the risk of osteoporosis.
_____Â A lack of calcium in your diet increases the risk of osteoporosis.
Complications
Advancements
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The iHealthSpot patient education library was written collaboratively by the iHealthSpot editorial team which includes Senior Medical Authors Dr. Mary Car-Blanchard, OTD/OTR/L and Valerie K. Clark, and the following editorial advisors: Steve Meadows, MD, Ernie F. Soto, DDS, Ronald J. Glatzer, MD, Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, Christopher M. Nolte, MD, David Applebaum, MD, Jonathan M. Tarrash, MD, and Paula Soto, RN/BSN. This content complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. The library commenced development on September 1, 2005 with the latest update/addition on February 16, 2022. For information on iHealthSpot’s other services including medical website design, visit www.iHealthSpot.com.
Aham Onyike, MD
Board-Certified, Fellowship-Trained Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr. Aham Onyike specializes in joint replacement surgery of the hip and knee – and is widely known for his excellence as a “Patient’s Choice” physician in these areas. His other areas of expertise include general orthopedics, fracture care, work-related injuries, and sports medicine and athletic injuries. He subsequently obtained his medical degree at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark in 1999. He completed his residency at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he was awarded the title of Resident of the Year in his final year. He completed his fellowship training in adult reconstruction at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Onyike received his board certification in orthopedic surgery by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He has been practicing in US for almost two decades.