Does any body have any information on osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a condition that affects the bones, causing them to become thin and weak. It happens more commonly in old age when the body becomes less able to replace worn out bone. Special cells within the bones, called living bone cells, are no longer able to effectively break down old bone and renew it with healthy, dense (thick) new bone.

As you get older, you also lose a certain amount of bone, causing the bones to become thinner. The bones become fragile and more likely to break (fracture), particularly the bones of the spine, wrist, and hips.

Bone is a living tissue that is constantly repairing itself. It is made of a hard outer shell, which contains a mesh of collagen (tough elastic fibres), minerals, blood vessels and bone marrow. This mesh looks a bit like a honeycomb, with spaces between the different parts. Healthy bones are very dense, and the spaces within bones are small. In bone affected by osteoporosis, the spaces are larger, making the bones weaker and less elastic.

Bones are repaired and reinforced by a range of proteins and minerals, which are absorbed from the bloodstream. They includes calcium, phosphorus, proteins and amino acids. The growth of sex hormones control the amount of mineral substance deposited in the bones. Changes in hormone levels can therefore affect the strength of the bones. For example, the female hormone oestrogen offers some protection against osteoporosis. After the menopause, oestrogen levels fall, often causing the bones to thin quickly.

Osteoporosis is very common and, in some cases, can be severe. Approximately three million people in the UK have osteoporosis and there are over 230,000 fractures every year as a result.

Osteoporosis is a condition that develops slowly over several years. The symptoms are not obvious in the early stages of the condition and can take months, or years, to appear. The early warning signs of osteoporosis can include joint pains, and having difficulty standing or sitting up straight. You may have no warning before a minor fall or sudden impact causes a bone fracture.

When the bones are significantly thinned (a low bone mass), breakages of the wrist, hip, or spinal bones (vertebra) are most common. A cough or a sneeze may cause the fracture of a rib, or the partial collapse of one of the bones of the spine.

A fractured bone in an older person can be serious because the bone is no longer able to repair itself effectively. This can lead to arthritis, and even disability, such as long term problems with mobility. Some older people may be unable to live independently following an injury.

The characteristic stooping (bent forward) position that is common in older people is a visible sign of osteoporosis. It happens when the bones in the spine are fractured (cracked), making it difficult to support the weight of the body.

Bones are at their thickest and strongest in early adult life. From around the age of 35, more bone cells are lost than are replaced. This causes the bone to become thinner and weaker. People who exercise when they are young, and who remain active into old age, are less likely to get osteoporosis. This is because bones stay strong if they are used.

Women

Women are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis than men. This is due to the decrease in the hormone oestrogen after the menopause which is essential for healthy bones. Women are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis when they have:

an early menopause (before the age of 45),a hysterectomy before the age of 45, particularly when the ovaries are also removed, orwhen their periods are absent for a long time (more than 6 months) as a result of over-exercising, or over-dieting.The male hormone testosterone also helps to keep the bones healthy. Men continue to produce this hormone into old age, but the risk of osteoporosis is increased in individuals with low levels of testosterone.

Diseases of the hormone producing glands

Diseases of the hormone producing glands may cause osteoporosis. The female hormone oestrogen and male hormone testosterone play an important role in keeping bones strong, by processing minerals such as calcium. Osteoporosis can be triggered by hormone-related diseases, including:

hyperthyroidism (over-active thyroid gland),disorders of the adrenal glands - for example, in Cushing's syndrome, overproduction of cortisol (a hormone produced in the adrenal glands) causes osteoporosis,reduced output of sex hormones (oestrogen and testosterone),disorders of the pituitary gland, anddiabetes.Other factors

Other factors that can increase the risk of osteoporosis include:

a close family history of osteoporosis,long periods of inactivity, such as long-term bed rest,heavy drinking and smoking,malabsorbtion problems, as experienced in Coeliac disease and Crohn's disease,long-term use of high dose corticosteroid treatment (widely used for conditions such as arthritis and asthma), which can affect bone strength,inadequate amounts of calcium,low vitamin D levels, andvery low body mass (for example being very underweight - having a BMI of 19 or less - or having thin bones as a result of an eating disorder).

I cannot answer your exact question other than vit d. However, I wanted to give you some important info. If you have a family history of osteoporosis please avoid soda pop. The carbonation in soda is terrible for your bones. It destroys your bones when you are younger and don't care or notice. Then you really pay for it when your older. I'm not saying this was your moms problem. But any of her offspring should be extra careful. Best wishes.

Drinking acidic drinks such as soda hastens osteoporosis.

www.webmd.com. Check out this sight. but it is essentially the softening of the bones.