06/09/2025
OSTEOPETROSIS - The silent killer
Osteoporosis is a very prevelant bone disease that usually affects the aging population. It weakens the bones, making them thin, brittle and more susceptible to fractures from minor falls or sometimes even spontaneously. While bones have a natural growth process, this process becomes less efficient with age, leading to a loss of bone strength. It is considered a silent epidemic because there are often no symptoms until a fracture occurs, although patients can complaint of bony pains or generalized tiredness. This disease most commonly affects the hip, spine, and wrist.
Risk factors include advancing age, menopause, certain medications like steroids and anti epileptic drugs, poor nutrition, alcohol intake, smoking and a sedentary lifestyle,
This disease can be managed by regular health checkups, blood tests and a bone densitometry test. A bone density test also known as DXA scan is the only confirmatory test to diagnosis Osteoporosis and it's severity.
This disease can be prevented or treated through weight-bearing exercises, a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, lifestyle changes like stopping smoking and limiting alcohol intake and certain antiosteoporotic medication��Medical Care:�Consult an orthopedics surgeon for advice on diet, exercise, fall prevention, and diagnostic tests
