When an individual experiences a lower-than-normal bone mineral density (BMD), osteoporosis is not usually the cause, medical research says. Osteopenia can also be its cause. Fosamax-related issues have resulted to why osteoporosis is currently being discussed. Right now it is important to know the difference between osteopenia and osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is said to have osteopenia as a sign. However, an osteopenia diagnosis does not always result to it. Normally, osteopenia is caused by old age. Bones become thinner when one grows older. Menopausal phase, eating disorders/metabolism problems, chemotherapy/steroid medicines, and radiation exposure are the other factors considered as its reason. One of the sad facts of this condition is that it doesn’t display symptoms. Changes and pains are not present but there is a higher risk of bones breaking.
Osteoporosis is considered to be a very common type of bone disease. Thin bones can happen on this condition which will lose its density overtime. This can either occur when the body cannot make new bones or the body reabsorbs too much old bones. There are still other factors for this disease to occur, such as:
· Estrogen drop among women and testosterone drop among men
· Chronic rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease, eating disorder
· Taking corticosteroid medications every day for more than 3 months and intake of some antiseizure drug
· Hyperparathyroidism
· Vitamin D deficiency
Like osteopenia, osteoporosis displays no symptoms at all, except when the disease is on its final stage. These symptoms include:
· Bone pain or tenderness
· Fractures with little or no trauma
· Loss of height (as much as 6 inches) over time
· Low back pain due to fractures of the spinal bones
· Neck pain due to fractures of the spinal bones
· Stooped posture or kyphosis, also called a "dowager's hump"
Bone mineral density is the vital core for osteopenia and osteoporosis. It is a reference to the level of eating disorders/metabolism problems, chemotherapy/steroid medicines, and radiation exposure. It can be determined through a bone mineral density test. A result of -1.0 bone mineral density test or higher is expected from individuals with normal bone density. -1.0 to -2.5 is expected among individuals with osteopenia. On the other hand, -2.5 bone density test result happens on people with osteoporosis.
It is very crucial that one knows his/her BMD score, especially when osteopenia and osteoporosis run in the family. This can be a way of avoiding the said conditions and even the incidence of a Fosamax lawsuit.
References:
webmd.com/osteoporosis/tc/osteopenia-overview
web.archive.org/web/20080307014020/http://www.nof.org/osteoporosis/bonemass.htm
courses.washington.edu/bonephys/opbmd.html
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001400/
Osteoporosis is said to have osteopenia as a sign. However, an osteopenia diagnosis does not always result to it. Normally, osteopenia is caused by old age. Bones become thinner when one grows older. Menopausal phase, eating disorders/metabolism problems, chemotherapy/steroid medicines, and radiation exposure are the other factors considered as its reason. One of the sad facts of this condition is that it doesn’t display symptoms. Changes and pains are not present but there is a higher risk of bones breaking.
Osteoporosis is considered to be a very common type of bone disease. Thin bones can happen on this condition which will lose its density overtime. This can either occur when the body cannot make new bones or the body reabsorbs too much old bones. There are still other factors for this disease to occur, such as:
· Estrogen drop among women and testosterone drop among men
· Chronic rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease, eating disorder
· Taking corticosteroid medications every day for more than 3 months and intake of some antiseizure drug
· Hyperparathyroidism
· Vitamin D deficiency
Like osteopenia, osteoporosis displays no symptoms at all, except when the disease is on its final stage. These symptoms include:
· Bone pain or tenderness
· Fractures with little or no trauma
· Loss of height (as much as 6 inches) over time
· Low back pain due to fractures of the spinal bones
· Neck pain due to fractures of the spinal bones
· Stooped posture or kyphosis, also called a "dowager's hump"
Bone mineral density is the vital core for osteopenia and osteoporosis. It is a reference to the level of eating disorders/metabolism problems, chemotherapy/steroid medicines, and radiation exposure. It can be determined through a bone mineral density test. A result of -1.0 bone mineral density test or higher is expected from individuals with normal bone density. -1.0 to -2.5 is expected among individuals with osteopenia. On the other hand, -2.5 bone density test result happens on people with osteoporosis.
It is very crucial that one knows his/her BMD score, especially when osteopenia and osteoporosis run in the family. This can be a way of avoiding the said conditions and even the incidence of a Fosamax lawsuit.
References:
webmd.com/osteoporosis/tc/osteopenia-overview
web.archive.org/web/20080307014020/http://www.nof.org/osteoporosis/bonemass.htm
courses.washington.edu/bonephys/opbmd.html
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001400/
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