What is osteoporosis?
As defined by the World Health Organization,
osteoporosis is a generalized skeletal disorder
of low bone mass (thinning of the bone) and
deterioration in its architecture, causing susceptibility
to fracture. There are two types of osteoporosis:
- Type I osteoporosis (postmenopausal
osteoporosis) generally develops in women
after menopause when the amount of estrogen
in the body greatly decreases. This process
leads to an increase in the resoprtion of
bone (the bones loses substance).
Type 1 osteoporosis is far more common
in women than in men, and typically develops
between the ages of 50 and 70. The process
usually results in a decrease in the amount
of trabecular bone (the spongy bone inside
of the hard cortical bone). The decrease
in the overall strength of the bone leads
primarily to wrist and vertebral body
(in the spine) fractures.
- Type II osteoporosis (senile osteoporosis)
typically happens after the age of 70 and
affects women twice as frequently as men.
Type II osteoporosis involves a thinning
of both the trabecular bone (the spongy bone
inside of the hard cortical bone) and the
hard cortical bone. This process often leads
to hip and vertebral body (in the spine) fractures.
There is some overlap between the two types
of osteoporosis. The type that can be significantly
influenced and prevented is Type I osteoporosis
(postmenopausal osteoporosis) from estrogen
deficiency.
It is important to note that osteoporosis may
either be a primary problem (Type I or Type
II) or may be secondary to another problem.
Approximately 20% of women and 40% of men have
a secondary cause of osteoporosis. In order
to determine the cause of osteoporosis, a thorough
medical history and physical examination, as
well as the appropriate diagnostic tests, need
to be obtained. |
