When bones lose their power…

BONE DISEASES: OSTEOPOROSIS (RAREFACTION OF BONE)

Osteoporosis is a metabolic disease of the bones in the course of which bone mass is lost. The disease is also known as bone loss. Because of the loss of bone mass the bone becomes unstable and eventually breaks. Most common are femoral neck and vertebral fractures. 

Each year fractures caused by osteoporosis are treated in 130,000 people in Germany. Every third patient with osteoporosis bone fractures is no longer able to care for himself and is thus dependent on the help of others because of this problem.

Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease in advanced age: 7 million mostly elderly people in Germany suffer from osteoprosis. Women are affected more frequently than men: a third of all women over the age of 60 live with the diagnosis “bone loss”.

Since the disease is very difficult to treat after fractures have occurred, it is important to detect osteoporosis risk early through preventive examinations. The distruction of bone mass can be counteracted in an early stage and fractures can be prevented.

One’s first bone density measurement is advisable starting at the age of 45. In cases of long-term treatment with cortisone, thyrod disease, rheumatic disease or other risk factors, osteoporosis measurements are advisable even earlier.

Please read on:

• Osteoporosis
• Osteoporosis: The examination