Osteoporosis – the silent bone thief

Osteoporosis, or bone thinning, is a chronic metabolic disease of the skeleton characterized by loss of bone mass, deterioration of its quality, and an increased risk of fractures.

Osteoporosis is characterized by its slow and often asymptomatic development. The first manifestation is usually a fracture even with minimal stress (even when simply falling or lifting a heavy object). Common osteoporotic fractures include:

– forearm fractures,

– arm fractures,

– vertebral fractures,

– hip fractures (femoral neck).

Osteoporotic fractures can be prevented, and osteoporosis is treatable even after a fracture.

Factors associated with osteoporosis and an increased risk of fractures include:

· age and gender (it occurs more often in postmenopausal women, but it does not avoid men either),

· congenital predisposition (osteoporosis and family history of fractures),

· lifestyle (insufficient physical activity, inappropriate eating habits, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, stress, long-term immobilization, etc.),

· low levels of sex hormones (menstrual cycle disorders, menopause, andropause),

· some medications (especially corticosteroids),

· certain diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, thyroid disease, cancer),

· previous low-traumatic fracture (high risk of another fracture).

Prevention consists of a combination of a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet and regular physical activity.

It is therefore necessary to ensure:

· sufficient intake of calcium and vitamin D (dairy products, fish, fruit, vegetables),

· regular exercise (walking, Nordic walking, light weight training or light weights, dancing, hiking, yoga, etc.),

· optimal body weight (both underweight and overweight increase the risk of osteoporosis),

· a balanced diet with enough protein and necessary nutrients (for proper bone formation),

· reduction of harmful habits (smoking, alcohol consumption).

Diagnostics:

Patients with a reasonable suspicion of osteoporosis should have an X-ray densitometry (bone mineral density assessment) performed in a timely manner. If this is confirmed, it is necessary to determine the cause. Bone loss can occur for a number of reasons throughout life.

Conclusion:

Osteoporosis can be easily detected in the asymptomatic period and effectively treated even before it manifests itself as fractures. It is important to take care of the condition of your bones and not underestimate prevention. Pharmacists can significantly assist in educating patients regarding treatment and preventive measures.