Bone And Body Health
Bone And Body Health
Osteoporosis
Body Parameters
Overview
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes your bones to lose their density or become thin. When your bones get thin, they also become fragile, making them more susceptible to breaks. Studies have shown that bone loss starts from the age of 30–40 years in both men and women. Osteoporosis is usually defined on the basis of bone mineral density assessment. Early detection can help manage some risk factors, either by medications, healthy diet and weight bearing exercises.
Risk Factors
- Gender is a major factor in assessing your likelihood of developing osteoporosis with women being much more at risk than men. due to decreased estrogen post menopause
- Older age puts you at greater risk of osteoporosis
- Being of Asian descent puts you at greatest risk of osteoporosis
- A family history of osteoporosis in first degree relatives (parent, sibling, or child), puts you at greater risk, especially if your mother or father fractured a hip
- Body frame size dictates your risk, with men and women who have small body frames tending to have a higher risk because they might have less bone mass
- Sedentary lifestyle increases risk not only for osteoporosis but multiple other diseases
- Prolonged steroid intake puts you at a high risk of developing osteoporosis
- Chronic medical problems such as kidney or liver disease, cancer, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis increase your risk of osteoporosis
- An unhealthy diet that is poor in Vit D and Calcium increases your risk of osteoporosis
- Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke increases your risk of osteoporosis
- Excessive alcohol consumption increases risk not only for osteoporosis but multiple other diseases
Screening for Osteoporosis
one density assessment using CT, specifically quantitative CT (QCT), provides a detailed analysis of bone mineral content and structure. This technique utilizes high-resolution imaging to measure the density of bone tissue, particularly in the lumbar spine and proximal femur, which are common sites for osteoporosis-related fractures. Unlike traditional dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), QCT offers a three-dimensional evaluation, allowing for more precise localization of bone density variations. It is particularly useful for detecting trabecular bone loss, which is often a precursor to fractures. Overall, CT-based bone density assessment enhances the understanding of skeletal health and aids in the prevention of fractures in at-risk populations.
