Osteopenia - what is it and what are the methods of treatment?

Normal functioning of the human body directly depends on the state of the bone system. Reduced bone density leads to their weakening, as a result of which fractures can occur. Most often, this pathology is diagnosed in women who are in the post-menopausal period. But sometimes the disease occurs and at a younger age, both in women and men. Reduction of bone density is the main manifestation of such a disease as osteopenia. What it is? Why does it arise? What are the symptoms and treatment? Osteopenia precedes such a serious disease as osteoporosis, therefore, one can not leave pathology without attention.

Causes

Why is the disease of osteopenia developing, today is not completely known. Bones become thinner with age. This is a completely natural process. When a person reaches a certain period, old cells of bone tissue are destroyed much faster than new ones form. The peak of bone growth is at the age of thirty, then this process is on a decline. With the greatest possible thickness of bone tissue, the probability of osteopenia is significantly reduced.

Also, osteopenia of the bones can arise if the person initially reduces their density.

Factors contributing to the development of this pathology

Osteopenia often develops:

• among women;

• With a thin physique;

• People belonging to the European race;

• In old age;

• With prolonged use of corticosteroids, gastric and anticonvulsants;

• When alcohol and smoking are abused;

• Due to unbalanced nutrition (vitamin D deficiency);

• With a sedentary lifestyle;

• As a result of the use of carbonated drinks;

• When the absorption of nutrients in the intestines is impaired;

• After chemotherapy for malignant tumors;

• After exposure to ionizing radiation.

In addition, pathology can be hereditary.

Osteopenia: symptoms of the disease

With the development of this illness, pain does not appear, and the patient often does not know about the problem. Even in the event that a crack appeared, a person can not feel anything until the bone tissue is damaged. After going to the hospital, he will be sent for diagnosis.

Causes of osteopenia of the femoral neck

Osteopenia of the femoral neck is most often diagnosed in old age. Contributes to the development of the disease, a violation of the mineralization of bones. This condition is the main provoking factor of a fracture of the femur. Osteopenia of the neck of the femur is difficult to diagnose, therefore, pathology is not treated. In addition, in the elderly, secondary diseases can develop, which manifest themselves with various symptoms. This sign, like a short-term loss of sensitivity of the skin in the thigh, is often not associated with osteopenia. A low degree of bone density is detected only in case of a fracture of the femoral neck. But, unfortunately, by this time the pathological process acquires a systemic character and is revealed throughout the entire bone system of the body.

A qualified radiologist will clearly distinguish osteoporosis from a normal structure on an x-ray. But osteopenia is not characterized by a significant decrease in the concentration of calcium in the bones, for this reason, the pathology in the image is not found.

Osteopenia of the lumbar spine

This condition most often develops as a result of lung pathology, internal organ transplantation, the use of anticonvulsants and antidepressants, and prolonged fasting. Also, osteopenia of the spine (pathology treatment will be described below) may result from intensive bone resorption and imperfect osteogenesis. Thinning of bone tissue in general and the lumbar spine in particular is the physiological process of aging. Osteopenia of the spine, as well as osteopenia of other sites, does not appear.

Osteopenia in children

This pathology is observed in approximately 50% of deeply premature babies. Develops ailment due to insufficient content of minerals (phosphorus and calcium) in the body during pregnancy. The majority of these substances are given to the fetus in the last trimester, and its bones grow faster. A premature baby, accordingly, is practically deprived of these essential elements. Such a baby from birth should receive significantly more phosphorus and calcium.

Also, the growth of the support device depends on the active movements of the fetus in the third trimester. The premature baby is weak enough, moves very little, the strength of the bones is therefore reduced.

Mother's milk substances, necessary for intensive growth of bones, contains in insufficient quantity. Therefore, it is necessary to add minerals either to breast milk or to a specialized milk formula until the weight of the child is 3.5 kg. The required daily dose of vitamin D is determined by the doctor, as a rule, it is 800 units. In addition, physical activity (massage) contributes to the strengthening of bones and growth.

Diagnostics

We talked about such a disease as osteopenia, what it is and why it develops, it was found out. And how to diagnose this pathology? To determine osteopenia, it is necessary to measure bone mineral density (BMD) in the spine, femurs and sometimes in the hands. Z-score as a result of the test shows the difference in BMD of the patient with an average of people of the same sex and age. To date, the most informative and accurate method is densitometry or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DERA). This procedure allows you to detect loss of bone mass from 2% per year. Standard X-ray examination in this case is not informative enough and it does not allow to detect the loss of such an amount of bone mass or small changes in bone density, therefore this method does not allow to confirm or disprove the diagnosis of "osteopenia".

Symptoms of the pathology are found most often in the elderly, when the bone density index exceeds 2. In this case, the patient shows changes in the lumbar spine. Radiography will help to detect deformation. In the pictures, in addition to specific vertebral disorders, there will be a marked decrease in their density.

Densitometric diagnosis has the following criteria:

• Norm at a density of less than 1;

• Osteopenia at a density of 1 to 2.5;

• Osteoporosis at a density above 2.5.

Who is recommended for osteopenia?

A BMD test is highly recommended for the following:

• Women after 50 years of age (during menopause) and men after 70 years of age.

• Persons of both sexes from the age of 50, if there are prerequisites for the development of osteoporosis.

• If there were cases of fracture of bones after 50 years.

• Persons of both sexes with prolonged use of drugs that contribute to reducing bone mass.

• If osteopenia is already diagnosed, regardless of gender and age, regular examinations should be conducted.

The treatment of weak mineralization of bones

Therapy of a pathology such as osteopenia (what it is, described above) is to prevent its further development. To strengthen bones, experts recommend that they reconsider their lifestyle and abandon bad habits. In addition, one should exclude the use of poor-quality food and provide the body with a full motor activity.

In the case of osteopenia

If osteopenia is diagnosed, treatment, first of all, consists in observing a balanced diet. Every day you need to eat fruits, greens, vegetables. It is very important to include in the menu milk and dairy products (yogurt, cottage cheese, fermented milk, yogurt). Increase the density of bones will help and magnesium, which contains beans, vegetables, cereals.

You should know that caffeine and salt contribute to the loss of calcium. In order to improve the health of bones, it is recommended to drink beverages that do not contain caffeine, and to limit the amount of salt in the finished products.

Do not forget about the importance of the presence of vitamin D in the body. In the skin, it is formed under the influence of ultraviolet, so in sunny weather you need to walk longer.

Medication

With such a disease as osteopenia, treatment may include taking medications.

The most common drugs:

• "Calcitriol."

• "Calcitonin."

• "Teriparatide."

• "Raloxifene."

• Bisphosphonates.

The agent "Calcitriol" is a preparation of vitamin D. This substance in the medicine is contained in a high concentration, so the drug is released on prescription. When using this medication, you need to keep the calcium level under control.

Calcitomin is a hormone of the thyroid gland that regulates the exchange of calcium in the body. With a deficiency of this hormone, resorption begins to predominate over osteogenesis. In this case, the medicinal product "Calcitonin", obtained from sea salmon, is used. The structure of this substance is similar to the human hormone.

The use of the medication "Teriparatide" is prescribed by an endocrinologist. This drug refers to stimulants of anabolic metabolism. Its overabundance can provoke a resorptive effect.

The drug "Raloxifene" has an estrogenic effect that inhibits bone resorption. Under the influence of the drug, the mass of bone tissue increases and the loss of calcium through the urinary system decreases.

Bisphosphonates are also aimed at preventing bone resorption. Medications related to this group do not contribute to osteogenesis, they only prevent the destruction of bones. If bisphosphonates are used regularly, osteoclasts (cells that destroy bone tissue) can not perform their function. Therefore, such medications can only be used for a short time. In the course of experimental studies it was found that with prolonged blocking of bone resorption, cancerous transformation of bone cells develops, which can threaten the patient's life.

Physical activity

An effective fight against osteopenia involves compulsory exercise. Excellent choice - swimming or brisk walking. It is also recommended to go to the gym. In the elderly, walks in the open air are useful, daily and for several hours. Young people are recommended morning jogging and regular gymnastics.

Preventive measures

Prevention of osteopenia is similar to treatment. First of all, it's a healthy lifestyle. It is very important to ensure sufficient intake of vitamin D and calcium in the body, the diet should be balanced and diverse. It is highly desirable to give up smoking and reduce to a minimum the use of alcoholic beverages. From a youth to watch over a condition of the health and to carry out actions on strengthening of a bone tissue.

It is never too late to change the habitual way of life to improve one's self-esteem. If you follow the above recommendations, the ailments will bypass you.

Conclusion

After reading this article, you learned about the causes of such a disease as osteopenia, what it is and what methods of treatment exist. We hope that the information will be useful to you. Take care of yourself and be well!