Osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when there is an imbalance between bone formation and old bone resorption. When the body loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both, a result is that bones become weak and may break from a fall or, in serious cases, from sneezing or minor bumps.
Viewed under a microscope,you would be able to see that a healthy bone looks like a honeycomb. When osteoporosis occurs, the holes and spaces in the honeycomb are much larger than in healthy bone. This is a result of Osteoporotic bones loosing density or mass, containing abnormal tissue structure. As bones become less dense, they weaken and are more likely to break.
Lifestyle behaviors that Increase Osteoporosis
- Lifestyle behaviors that increase osteoporosis risk include
- calcium deficiency
- vitamin D deficiency
- little or no exercise
- alcohol abuse
- cigarette smoking
Testing for Osteoporosis
A bone density test can be done to test for osteoporosis and it enhances the accuracy of calculating your risk of breaking bones. This test uses X-rays to measure how many grams of calcium and other bone minerals are packed into a segment of bone. The bones that are most commonly tested are in the spine, hip and forearm.
Preventing Osteoporosis
By making healthy lifestyle changes or continuing with healthy lifestyle choices, you can build strong bones and help prevent osteoporosis with weight-bearing exercise and a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D.