Osteoporosis (medical condition): Osteoporosis is a disease that usually affects seniors and the elderly, where the bones thin and weaken from calcium depletion. Many women and also a lot of men suffer from thin bones and osteoporosis. Unfortunately, many are ...more
Osteoporosis: See also:
Osteoporosis:
»Introduction: Osteoporosis
»Symptoms of Osteoporosis
»Causes of Osteoporosis
»Treatments for Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis: Reduction in the quantity of bone or atrophy of skeletal tissue; an age-related disorder characterized by decreased bone mass and loss of normal skeletal microarchitecture, leading to increased susceptibility to fractures. [osteo- + G. poros, pore, + -osis, condition]Osteoporosis affects 20 million U.S. residents, about 80% of them women, and costs U.S. society as much as $13.8 billion annually. About 1.3 million fractures attributable to osteoporosis occur each year in people aged 45 and older, and this condition is responsible for 50% of fractures occurring in women older than age 50. Although all bones are affected, compression fractures of the vertebrae and traumatic fractures of the wrist and femoral neck are most common. Loss of body height and development of kyphosis may be the only signs of vertebral collapse. Fractures in the elderly often lead to loss of mobility and independence, social alienation, fear of further falls and fractures, and depression. After hip fracture, most elderly patients fail to recover normal activity, and mortality within 1 year approaches 20%. Osteoporosis occurs when bone resorption outpaces bone formation. Underlying mechanisms are complex and probably diverse. Bone constantly undergoes cycles of resorption and remodeling to maintain the concentration of calcium and phosphate in the extracellular fluid. When serum calcium concentration drops, increased secretion of parathyroid hormone stimulates bone resorption by osteoclasts to restore serum calcium levels to normal. Bone mass declines with age and is influenced by sex, race, menopause, and weight-for-height. Dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D as well as intestinal and renal function affect calcium and phosphate homeostasis. The risk of osteoporosis is highest in postmenopausal women. Asian or white race, underweight, dietary calcium deficiency, sedentary lifestyle, alcohol use, and cigarette smoking appear to be independent risk factors. The decline of vitamin D3 level with aging results in calcium malabsorption, which, in turn, stimulates bone resorption. Estrogen deficiency exacerbates this problem by increasing the sensitivity of bone to resorbing agents. Female athletes who become amenorrheic because of rigorous exercise and dietary restriction or eating disorders are at risk of osteoporosis. The formation and resorption of bone are also influenced by external physical factors such as body weight and exercise. Immobilization and prolonged bed rest produce rapid bone loss, whereas exercise involving weight-bearing, resistance, and high impact has been shown both to reduce bone loss and to increase bone mass. Risk factors for osteoporosis in men include alcoholism, chronic lung disease, hypogonadism, and rheumatoid arthritis, and other disorders that restrict mobility. Osteoporosis is common in young adults with cystic fibrosis and in people receiving long-term thyroid hormone or glucocorticoid therapy. The diagnosis of primary osteoporosis is established by documentation of reduced bone density after exclusion of known causes of excessive bone loss. Assessment of bone density is currently recommended for all women 65 and older and for younger women who are at increased risk of osteoporosis. Roentgenograms are insensitive indicators of bone loss, because bone density must have decreased by at least 20-30% before the reduction can be appreciated. Standard diagnostic procedures are determination of bone mineral density (BMD) at the ultradistal radius and midshaft radius by single-photon absorptiometry (SPA) and at the hip and lumbar spine by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The World Health Organization defines osteoporosis as a BMD more than 2.5 standard deviations (SD) below the mean for healthy premenopausal women and osteopenia as a BMD between 1 and 2.5 SD below that level. A quantitative ultrasound procedure is comparable with bone density measurements by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in predicting fractures due to osteoporosis. The goal of therapy in osteoporosis is prevention of fractures in susceptible patients. The appropriate timing and proper use of agents such as calcium, vitamin D, estrogen, bisphosphonates, calcitonin, and raloxifene and the role of exercise have generated major research efforts and considerable controversy. Intake of adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D, and continuing moderate weight-bearing exercise, are basic preventive measures for people of all ages. Those with demonstrated reduction of bone mineral density should take 1200-1500 mg of calcium and 400-800 IU of vitamin D daily. Administration of estrogen at and after menopause does not simply halt the loss of bone, but actually increases bone mass. However, to date there is no experimental proof that hormone replacement with estrogen reduces the risk of fractures in postmenopausal women. The possible benefits of estrogen therapy must be weighed against the increased risk of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma (which can be offset by concomitant administration of progestogen), myocardial infarction, stroke, invasive breast cancer, venous thromboembolism, and gallbladder disease. The selective estrogen receptor modulator raloxifene has been approved for prevention of osteoporosis. It does not cause endometrial hyperplasia but is less effective than estrogen in conserving bone mass. The hormone calcitonin, administered by injection or nasal spray, inhibits bone resorption. Bisphosphonates such as alendronate and etidronate, which bind to bone crystals, rendering them resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis and inhibiting the action of osteoclasts, have been shown to increase bone mineral density. In contrast to other agents, teriparatide, a synthetic version of the biologically active segment of human parathyroid hormone, actually stimulates bone formation in osteoporosis. Strategies to prevent falls are important in elderly patients. see also estrogen replacement therapy, raloxifene.
Source: Stedman's Medical Spellchecker, © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
Osteoporosis: A condition that is characterized by a decrease in bone mass and density, causing bones to become fragile.
Source: National Institute of Health
Osteoporosis: abnormal loss of bony tissue resulting in fragile porous bones attributable to a lack of calcium; most common in postmenopausal women.
Source: WordNet 2.1
Osteoporosis: RAEB: A condition of reduced bone mass, with decreased cortical thickness and a decrease in the number and size of the trabeculae of cancellous bone (but normal chemical composition), resulting in increased fracture incidence. Osteoporosis is classified as primary (Type 1, postmenopausal osteoporosis; Type 2, age-associated osteoporosis; and idiopathic, which can affect juveniles, premenopausal women, and middle-aged men) and secondary osteoporosis (which results from an identifiable cause of bone mass loss).
Source: Diseases Database
Osteoporosis: loss of bone mass and strength due to nutritional, metabolic, or other factors, usually resulting in deformity or fracture; a major public health problem of the elderly, especially women.
Source: CRISP
Osteoporosis: Reduction of bone mass without alteration in the composition of bone, leading to fractures. Primary osteoporosis can be of two major types: postmenopausal osteoporosis (OSTEOPOROSIS, POSTMENOPAUSAL) and age-related or senile osteoporosis.
Source: MeSH 2007
Osteoporosis (medical condition): See Osteoporosis (disease information).
»Introduction: Osteoporosis
»Symptoms of Osteoporosis
»Causes of Osteoporosis
»Treatments for Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is listed as a type of (or associated with) the following medical conditions in our database:
Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength predisposing to an increased risk of fracture. Bone strength reflects the integration of two main features: bone density and bone quality. Osteoporosis is the most common of the bone diseases that affect Americans. Although it is the underlying cause of most fractures in older people, the condition is silent and undetected in many cases until a fracture occurs. (Source: excerpt from Osteoporosis Progress and Promise: NIAMS)
Osteoporosis, which means "porous bones," is a condition of excessive skeletal fragility resulting in weakened bones that break easily. A combination of genetic, dietary, hormonal, age-related, and lifestyle factors all contribute to this condition. Osteoporosis usually progresses painlessly until a fracture occurs, which is usually in the hip, spine, or wrist. (Source: excerpt from Osteoporosis: NWHIC)
Osteoporosis is a disease that thins and weakens bones to the point where they break easily—especially bones in the hip, spine (backbone), and wrist. You can lose bone over many years. Because you may not notice any symptoms until a bone breaks, osteoporosis is called the “silent disease.” (Source: excerpt from Osteoporosis - Age Page - Health Information: NIA)
Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength predisposing to an increased risk of fracture. Bone strength reflects the integration of two main features: bone density and bone quality. Osteoporosis is the most common of the bone diseases that affect Americans. Although it is the underlying cause of most fractures in older people, the condition is silent and undetected in many cases until a fracture occurs. (Source: excerpt from Osteoporosis Progress and Promise: NIAMS)
Osteoporosis, which means "porous bones," is a condition of excessive skeletal fragility resulting in weakened bones that break easily. A combination of genetic, dietary, hormonal, age-related, and lifestyle factors all contribute to this condition. Osteoporosis usually progresses painlessly until a fracture occurs, which is usually in the hip, spine, or wrist. (Source: excerpt from Osteoporosis: NWHIC)
Osteoporosis is a disease that thins and weakens bones to the point where they break easily—especially bones in the hip, spine (backbone), and wrist. You can lose bone over many years. Because you may not notice any symptoms until a bone breaks, osteoporosis is called the “silent disease.” (Source: excerpt from Osteoporosis - Age Page - Health Information: NIA)
Osteoporosis (symptom): Bone mass loss (osteoporosis) as a symptom.
Osteoporosis (symptom): Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength predisposing to an increased risk of fracture. Bone strength reflects the integration of two main features: bone density and bone quality. Osteoporosis is the most common of the bone diseases that affect Americans. Although it is the underlying cause of most fractures in older people, the condition is silent and undetected in many cases until a fracture occurs. (Source: excerpt from Osteoporosis Progress and Promise: NIAMS)
Osteoporosis, which means "porous bones," is a condition of excessive skeletal fragility resulting in weakened bones that break easily. A combination of genetic, dietary, hormonal, age-related, and lifestyle factors all contribute to this condition. Osteoporosis usually progresses painlessly until a fracture occurs, which is usually in the hip, spine, or wrist. (Source: excerpt from Osteoporosis: NWHIC)
Osteoporosis is a disease that thins and weakens bones to the point where they break easily—especially bones in the hip, spine (backbone), and wrist. You can lose bone over many years. Because you may not notice any symptoms until a bone breaks, osteoporosis is called the “silent disease.” (Source: excerpt from Osteoporosis - Age Page - Health Information: NIA)
Osteoporosis (symptom): See Osteoporosis (symptom information).
These medical disease topics may be related to Osteoporosis:
Source - MeSH 2007
Source - MeSH 2007
Source - CRISP
Source - MeSH 2007
Source - CRISP
Source - WordNet 2.1
Source: CRISP
Source: CRISP
Source: CRISP
The following list attempts to classify Osteoporosis into categories where each line is subset of the next.
Source: WordNet 2.1
Source: Diseases Database
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