A bone disease is any type of injury or disease that affects a person’s bones. The disease or injury can cause an abnormality in a person’s skeletal system too. Some various types of bone diseases require the help of a bone specialist. For instance, osteomyelitis is a bone disease. It is an infection in the bone’s tissues that is caused by a Staphylococcus aureus organism. The organism infiltrates the bone via bloodstream. Another bone disease is called osteoporosis.

What is the Bone Disease Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that causes a person’s bones to become brittle and weak. In fact, their bones become so brittle that if they fall or place mild stress on them, a bone fracture can occur. Mild stress can simply be coughing or bending over to pick up an object. Osteoporosis-related breaks in the bone often happen in the waist, hip or spine.

Why Does Osteoporosis Make Bones Brittle and Weak?

The reason why this osteoporosis makes bones weak and brittle is because it stops the cycle of bone growth. Bone is living tissue. This means the tissue within the bone is constantly broken down and replaced. The disease causes the new bone tissue to slow down. So, there’s more removal of the old bone tissue than new growth.

What are the Symptoms of Osteoporosis?

At first, there are no symptoms. A person may not know they’re bone tissue isn’t growing properly. As the condition develops, they will notice more symptoms such as back pain. The back pain is caused by a collapsed or broken vertebra.

Another symptom is a stooped posture. This means a person’s shoulders become hunched over and they can’t stand properly. They also lose height throughout the course of the condition. Losing height means the person become shorter. A bone fracture is another symptom. It becomes easier to break or fracture bones easier than when their bones were healthier.

Diagnosis and Treatment for Osteoporosis

The amount of bone density will determine whether a person has the bone condition. Bone density is measured by an X-ray. The test is painless. A person’s wrist, hips and spine are checked by an X-ray scanner. Treatment options depend on the person’s current condition. Doctors typically base treatment option on the risk of a person fracturing a bone within a 10-year period. If there is a low risk, treatment recommendation may not include any medication. Instead, the treatment may include focusing on lowering the risk of falls and bone loss. Other treatment options depend on gender and age such as medication and hormone-related therapy. Decreasing the risks of falls will also be a high priority.

Preventing Osteoporosis Depends on Lifestyle

Regular exercise and good nutrition are vital for keeping bones healthy throughout a person’s lifetime. Other things like body weight can put a person at risk for this bone disease. Being underweight increases the chance of fractures and bone loss. Thus, it’s important to maintain a healthy body weight.