Posts Tagged ‘Bone’
Osteoporosis
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009
DESCRIPTION
Osteoporosis, which literally means “porous bone”, is a progressive reduction in normal bone mineral density, mass, and strength resulting in marked bone thinning and vulnerability to fracture. Although bone mass normally declines 1.5–2% per year in both sexes after age 40, women are at greater risk for osteoporosis since their peak bone mass is naturally less than that of men due to their smaller size and muscle mass. Osteoporosis is very uncommon in men and is typically due to some underlying cause such as long-term use of anticonvulsive or corticosteroid drugs, alcoholism or hyperthyroidism. In women, osteoporosis is quite common, occurring in approximately one in four women after menopause, and is due, in part, to the perimenopausal decrease in progesterone and postmenopausal drop in estrogen, both of which play important roles in maintaining bone mass. (more…)