Musculoskeletal system >>>> Osteopenia
Osteopenia.
Osteopenia is a condition of bone tissue when there is a loss of bone mass. The causes of osteopenia are associated with many phenomena:
- with resorption of bone tissue, the rate of which with age exceeds the rate of its remodeling,
- with metabolic disorders in the body, in particular, with the metabolism of calcium and vitamin D,
- with processes of bone tissue demineralization (osteomalacia),
- with disorders of the gastrointestinal tract,
- with hypocalcemia syndrome,
- with hormonal disorders during menopause,
- with medications that reduce bone mineralization,
- with heredity,
- with a sedentary lifestyle.
The signs of osteopenia do not manifest themselves clearly, a person may not experience any unpleasant sensations, except for an increased risk of fractures due to thinning of the bones.
The phenomenon of osteopenia usually serves as the threshold of osteoporosis, and its diagnosis plays an important role in identifying early signs of developing osteoporosis. But, as practice shows, it is impossible to diagnose osteopenia using conventional radiography; for such cases, bone densitometry or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry is considered the most appropriate and accurate method, which allows determining bone loss, starting from 2-5%.
Osteopenia therapy is based on choosing a diet enriched with calcium and vitamin D, taking medications that improve calcium and phosphorus metabolism, performing physical activity that is available for health (especially with weights), maintaining an active lifestyle (walking, jogging). Treatment of osteopenia with serious drugs is carried out only in difficult cases, leading steadily to the treatment of osteoporosis. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of osteopenia is essential to prevent osteoporosis.
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