Osteoporosis – what you need to know about the disease
Strange as it may seem at first, the skeletal system that forms the framework of our body is not a fixed structure. It continuously changes and remodels depending on the load. By the age of 30–35 a person's bones reach their maximum mass. After that, bone resorption gradually increases. This is a natural process; however, if bone loss is greater than normal, osteoporosis develops. This disease affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide […]
Strange as it may seem at first, the skeletal system that forms the framework of our body is not a fixed structure. It continuously changes and remodels depending on the load. By the age of 30–35 a person's bones reach their maximum mass. After that, bone resorption gradually increases. This is a natural process; however, if bone loss is greater than normal, osteoporosis develops. This disease affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide; in Hungary it makes life difficult for about 7–10% of the population. Nevertheless, there are methods to prevent the problem; and if it has already developed, you may be able to treat it even at home.
Our bones are in a constant state of remodeling: new bone tissue is formed while the old is broken down. Over roughly two to three months a healthy young adult's entire skeleton renews itself, thanks to the coordinated action of bone formation and bone resorption processes. In youth, processes that increase bone mass dominate; by the age of 30–35 we reach our peak bone mass, then for a short time the balance between building and breakdown persists, and after the age of 40–45 bone density begins to decline. We speak of osteoporosis when bone mass loss is of such a degree that it exceeds the value typical for the given age — at that point the functional balance between bone-forming cells (osteoblasts) and bone-resorbing cells (osteoclasts) is disturbed.
The "anteroom" of osteoporosis: osteopenia
Osteopenia, or "low bone mass," refers to a state in which a slight degree of bone loss has already occurred, but it does not yet reach the severity of osteoporosis. You should consider it a warning sign; it indicates that the bones have already lost strength. The difference between osteoporosis and osteopenia is that the latter is still a reversible process. However, this condition is asymptomatic in most cases, so unfortunately you often only become aware of it when the problem is already present.
Risk factors for osteoporosis
Bone thinning with advancing age is a natural process, but there are factors that increase the risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis. These include, for example:
- genetic predisposition: if multiple members of your family suffer from osteoporosis;
- certain diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis;
- smoking weakens the bones;
- excessive alcohol consumption reduces bone formation and negatively affects calcium absorption;
- previous steroid treatment, because long-term use of steroid medications can damage bones;
- disorders of sex hormones, low estrogen or testosterone levels;
- certain body types: thin and short people have a lower initial bone mass, from which they may lose proportionally more over the years;
- eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia;
- overactivity of the thyroid or parathyroid glands can lead to bone loss;
- diuretic use increases calcium loss;
- vitamin D deficiency and low calcium intake hinder bone formation;
- a sedentary lifestyle, because bones do not receive sufficient load and thus lack the stimulus to build bone;
- the tart taste of many soft drinks is usually produced with phosphoric acid, which exacerbates vitamin D and calcium deficiency.
Prevalence of osteoporosis
Osteoporosis affects approximately 7–10% of the population in Hungary. It is roughly four times more common in women than in men, partly because women have a lower peak bone mass to begin with and because sex hormone levels decline after menopause; however, above the age of 75 the disease occurs in men as often as in women.
Primary and secondary osteoporosis
Primary osteoporosis develops due to advancing age and accounts for 80% of osteoporosis cases. It has two forms: postmenopausal and senile, the latter affecting both sexes. In contrast, secondary osteoporosis — which is much less common — always arises as a consequence of an underlying condition (for example inflammatory joint disease, diabetes, alcoholism, etc.), or it can be the result of hormonal treatment.
The symptoms of osteoporosis
One of the most important — and at the same time most obvious — symptoms of osteoporosis is recurrent bone fractures: bones breaking under less force than usual. This typically manifests as vertebral fractures, wrist and hip fractures — most commonly the spine, femoral neck, pelvis and wrist bones break in patients with osteoporosis. If the disease is already advanced, bending over or coughing can cause a bone fracture; in very severe cases the vertebrae can collapse under the weight of the body, resulting in a loss of height.
Potential complications of osteoporosis and the importance of treatment
The course of osteoporosis can vary from person to person, and if treatment is started in time (in women, early treatment around menopause), the rate of bone loss will less threaten quality of life. However, without treatment the disease progresses; persistent pain restricts movement, and fractures resulting from osteoporosis can even be life-threatening (the mortality rate after hip fractures in the elderly exceeds 50%!). For this reason prevention and timely treatment of osteoporosis is crucial, as it avoids severe complications.
Prevention of osteoporosis
How much bone mass a person builds up until about age 35 and how quickly they start losing it afterwards has a major effect on the risk of developing osteoporosis. Physically active children can build greater bone mass; it is proven that jumping and hopping increase bone strengthening.
In adulthood, three nutritional points are universally important for preventing osteoporosis:
- adequate calcium intake,
- adequate vitamin D intake,
- and achieving and maintaining an appropriate body weight.
Expressed in numbers:
- On average, the human body needs at least 500–600 mg of calcium daily (during pregnancy and breastfeeding this number increases to 1000–1500 mg).
- Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption; a daily 25–50 mg is recommended.
- Body mass index (BMI) compares an individual's height (m) and weight (kg); to calculate it divide weight by the square of height in meters. A result between 18.5 and 24.99 is considered normal weight.
Magnetotherapy in the treatment of osteoporosis
The beneficial effects of magnetotherapy on osteoporosis are supported by a series of clinical studies; you can achieve improvement in osteoporosis with it. The mechanism of action of pulsed magnetotherapy was demonstrated by Yang Wei and colleagues in their 2008 study*. They found that low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (the type used by magnetotherapy devices) accelerate the formation of the special bone-forming cells (osteoblasts).
The magnetic field causes several changes. It increases cellular metabolism, improves the absorption of minerals needed for bone formation — such as calcium. It activates the cells responsible for bone formation and speeds up the incorporation of minerals into bone. As a result, bone structure strengthens and bone density increases.
The Magnum XL and XL Pro, the Magnum 2500, 3000 Pro and 3500 Pro devices provide treatment programs for osteoporosis. It is worth purchasing a mattress accessory for more effective treatment.
Read my article Magnetotherapy in practice. You will also find a suggested treatment protocol for osteoporosis there.
Product recommendation for osteoporosis treatment
Medical pulsed magnetotherapy (PEMF) is a method for treating osteoporosis that complements exercise and pharmacological therapies. Every member of the Globus Magnum device family has a treatment program.
