Causes and treatment of osteoporosis in men. Problems of osteoporosis in men Causes of osteoporosis in men at a young age

Until the age of 30, your bones are dense and strong, but then a decrease in bone density gradually begins to occur. It happens to everyone, but some people develop osteoporosis much faster than usual. This actually means that they are at greater risk of fracture.

At-risk groups

Osteoporosis occurs in both men and women. It most often occurs in older people, but can also occur in younger people.

Causes of osteoporosis in women

According to statistics, women develop osteoporosis much more often than men, due to the fact that hormonal changes that occur during menopause directly affect bone density.

Risk factors

Many hormones in the body can influence the process of formation and renewal of bone tissue. Diseases of the hormone-producing glands can cause osteoporosis. These include the following diseases:

• Hyperthyroidism (hyperfunction of the thyroid gland);
• Adrenal disorders such as Cushing's syndrome;
• Decrease in the amount of sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone);
• Disruption of the pituitary gland;
• Hyperparathyroidism (overactive parathyroid glands).

Other risk factors

Other factors may also cause osteoporosis and increase the risk of its development, including:

• Heredity;
• A body mass index (BMI) of 19 or less is underweight;
• Long-term use of high doses of oral corticosteroids (often used for arthritis and asthma);
• eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia;
• Drinking and smoking;
• Rheumatoid arthritis;
• Malabsorption problems such as celiac disease and Crohn's disease;
• Taking certain medications used to treat breast and prostate cancer that affect hormone levels;
• Long periods of inactivity, such as prolonged bed rest.

Osteoporosis leads to degenerative changes in the spine and significantly increases the risk of fractures of varying severity. If you experience any symptoms of osteoporosis, you should seek qualified medical help as soon as possible and begin treatment to strengthen your bones.

Bone fractures, back pain, stooping and decreased height are symptoms of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is considered a silent disease because there are often no obvious symptoms until a fracture occurs. In the later stages of osteoporosis, symptoms may include pain in the bones and spine and a decrease in a person's height.

There are several symptoms of osteoporosis that indicate the presence of this disease. Osteoporosis can be caused by an unhealthy lifestyle and there are many reasons that cause it.

Bone fracture

Fractures are one of the most common signs of brittle bones caused by osteoporosis. They can occur during a fall or even during minor movements, such as stepping off a curb. In advanced forms of osteoporosis, fractures can even be caused by severe sneezing or coughing.

Back or neck pain

Osteoporosis can cause compression fractures of the spine. This can be very painful because the destruction of the vertebrae can cause pinching of the nerve fibers coming from the spinal cord. Pain symptoms can range from minor soreness to unbearable pain.

Reducing human height

Compression fractures of the spine cause a person's height to decrease. This is one of the most noticeable symptoms of osteoporosis.

Slouch

Compression of the vertebrae can also cause a slight curvature of the upper back. Slouching is scientifically known as kyphosis, which is popularly called “widow’s hump.” Kyphosis can cause pain in the back and neck, and even negatively affect breathing due to additional pressure on the airways.

Emergency care for osteoporosis

Symptoms of osteoporosis can cause pain and discomfort. In most cases, there is no need to go to the emergency room. But you just need to see a doctor immediately if you experience unbearable pain in your back, neck, hip or arm. Severe pain may indicate a fracture. If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis or suspect you have it, you must begin treatment aimed at strengthening bone tissue and preventing fractures.

Treatment of osteoporosis

Treatment for osteoporosis includes taking medications to strengthen bones and taking safety precautions to avoid various types of bone fractures.

If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis or are at increased risk of breaking bones, your doctor will usually prescribe treatments to strengthen your bone tissue, which can help prevent fractures.

• Consume enough calcium, vitamin D and exercise your body sufficiently to maintain your skeletal system;
• Quit smoking, reduce alcohol consumption and change lifestyle habits that can negatively affect your bones;
• Change the medications you take that contribute to the development of osteoporosis.

Types of drug treatment

There are a number of medications available to treat osteoporosis. Your doctor will determine the appropriate treatment based on your situation. To obtain the maximum effect from the use of any of the drugs, you must strictly adhere to the course of treatment and dosage.

Osteoporosis medications increase bone density, which can significantly reduce the likelihood of bone fractures.

For example, medications can increase bone density in the hip by approximately 1 to 3% and in the spine by 4 to 8% during the first 3 to 4 years of treatment. After taking medications, the likelihood of a spinal fracture is reduced by approximately 30 - 70%, and hip fractures by 30 - 50% (a positive effect can be observed within 6 - 12 months after the start of treatment).

Drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis are grouped into separate groups depending on their active component.

Bisphosphonates

Bisphosphonates are recommended for people who already have fractures caused by osteoporosis to prevent further fractures. They are prescribed to older people (over 70) who have not had a fracture but are at greater risk due to low bone density.

They also need to be taken by people with low bone density who are taking corticosteroids (such as prednisone or cortisone) at a dose of 7.5 mg for at least 3 months.

Denosumab

Denosumab works slightly differently than bisphosphonates, but it has the same effect of reducing the rate of bone destruction with a similar reduction in the risk of fracture. Denosumab is prescribed to people who have already had a fracture due to osteoporosis to prevent further fractures. It is also recommended for older people (over 70) who have not had a fracture but are at greater risk due to low bone density.

Strontium ranelate

This medication is absorbed into the bones in the same way as calcium. It increases bone formation and reduces bone loss, resulting in denser and stronger bones, which in turn reduces the risk of fractures. Strontium ranelate is recommended for people who already have fractures caused by osteoporosis to prevent further fractures.

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs)

This medicine acts on the bones in a similar way to the hormone estrogen, helping to slow bone loss and reduce the risk of spinal fractures in women who have gone through menopause.

Raloxifene is prescribed to postmenopausal women who have already had fractures due to osteoporosis to prevent further fractures.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

The active ingredient is the hormone estrogen. Some drugs also contain a progestogen (combined HRT). Even at low doses, HRT helps slow bone loss, which reduces the risk of osteoporosis and fractures in women who have gone through menopause. HRT is effective for most women under 60 years of age who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis and who also require hormonal treatment to reduce menopausal symptoms. They are also prescribed to women under 60 years of age who cannot take other medications for osteoporosis. They are especially recommended for women with early menopause (up to 45 years).

Because there is a slight increase in the risk of heart disease, stroke, and breast cancer in older women, this type of treatment is not generally recommended for women over 60 years of age.

Teriparatide

This medicine stimulates the growth of bone tissue, which leads to increased strength of the bone structure. This treatment is prescribed to people with severe osteoporosis when other medications have not worked and the risk of fractures is still very high. Teriparatide is prescribed only by a specialist for a period of no more than 18 months. After the course of teriparatide is completed, the next stage of treatment is carried out, aimed at consolidating and maintaining the result.

Teriparatide is prescribed only to people who have extremely low bone density and to those who have suffered at least two fractures, one of which occurred during drug therapy for osteoporosis.

Recommended for people who have had other treatments but still have very low bone density and further fractures. This type of treatment is prescribed by a specialist for both men and women. After the 18-month course of treatment is completed, the next medicine is prescribed, aimed at consolidating the result.

Some clarifications regarding drug therapy for osteoporosis

Taking medications for patients suffering from osteoporosis requires a fairly long period, because Bone loss has occurred over many years, and of course it takes quite a long time for the bones to regain strength. Using the right medication and timing it appropriately is critical to bone health. How to treat osteoporosis in each specific case will be determined by a specialist through tests and other examination methods.

Most medications to treat osteoporosis are prescribed for many years, and patients who follow all prescriptions report a significant reduction in bone loss and risk of fractures.

Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about your treatment. If the result is unsatisfactory, we recommend consulting with another specialist in this disease.

Bone resorption is a systemic pathology that affects all parts of the musculoskeletal system. Osteoporosis in men is a common problem in old age. This is due to hormonal changes and some other reasons leading to increased bone fragility.

The main therapy is the consumption of calcium, vitamin D and an individually selected complex of physical therapy. An important role is played by timely treatment of any diseases of the skeletal system, proper nutrition, and a healthy lifestyle.

The main cause of the disease is considered to be low levels of testosterone production, which contributes to the formation and strengthening of bone tissue. A decrease in testosterone synthesis is observed in men over 50 years of age. This is manifested by a decrease in potency, body weight, the development of depression, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The most dangerous thing at this age is the development of osteoporosis, which has its own characteristics.

Thus, bone resorption is diagnosed less often in men than in women. This is due to the following reasons:

• higher bone mass density;
• pathology develops more slowly;
• massive tubular bones;
• there is no sharp decrease in the synthesis of sex hormones even in old age.

In addition, the male part of the population more often experiences physical activity that helps strengthen skeletal elements. The disease usually occurs in old age, which men often do not live to see.

Negative factors for the occurrence of osteoporosis can be smoking and excessive alcohol consumption against a background of physical inactivity and poor nutrition.

According to medical statistics, smoking doubles the risk of fractures, and alcohol negatively affects all endocrine glands.

Elderly men often turn to traumatologists for fractures resulting from minor domestic injuries. This is especially true for the femoral neck, femur and vertebral bodies. X-ray diagnostics reveal signs of osteoporosis.

Disability and mortality after fractures are higher than in women. This may be explained by the development of the disease in older years, when general health is poor and complications from injuries occur more often.

The following factors increase the risk of fractures:

• age over 65-70 years;
• history of trauma;
• long-term use of corticosteroid hormones;
• hereditary predisposition.

Urban residents suffering from arthritis, malignant diseases, and pathologies of the stomach and intestines are often susceptible to injury.

Signs of pathology

The initial stages of osteoporosis are asymptomatic. Then some clinical manifestations arise: gait becomes uncertain, lameness often appears, posture changes - height decreases due to curvature of the spine, potency is impaired. Sometimes there may be a decrease in the size of the testicles.

Subsequently, patients complain of the following symptoms:

• discomfort in the interscapular area;
• fatigue;
• reduction in the volume of active and passive movements in the shoulder and hip joints;
• aches in the lumbosacral spine, knee and ankle joints after physical exertion.

Men often do not pay attention to the signs of osteoporosis, attributing the malaise to physical fatigue.

Pain syndrome occurs later, at the stage of significant demineralization, threatening fractures of the femur or spine.

The pain is triggered by fatigue and often bothers you at night, disrupting sleep. Gradually they become chronic, significantly worsening a person’s quality of life.

Principles of therapeutic tactics

At the same time, two processes occur in the human body of any age: osteosynthesis and bone destruction. The goal of therapy is to slow demineralization and improve the formation of new bone cells to prevent fractures.

To prescribe adequate therapy, it is important to establish the cause of the pathology. Treatment of osteoporosis in men should solve the following problems:

• normalization of the concentration of thyroid hormones in the blood;
• monitoring the correct intake of corticosteroid hormones, antitumor and antiepileptic drugs.

The disease must be treated with calcium preparations, which forms the basis of the bone frame. To ensure that the absorption of this element is successful, vitamin D is added in a dose of at least 400 IU every day. For laboratory-confirmed osteoporosis, you need to take 1-1.2 g of calcium daily, which is included in medications and foods. According to indications, doses may be increased.

The most commonly prescribed medications are from the following drug groups:

• bisphosphonates - Bonviva, Alendronate, Zometa, which slow down the process of bone destruction (cannot be taken simultaneously with calcium supplements);
• sex hormones as replacement therapy;
• Miacalcic is a medicinal analogue of the thyroid hormone involved in mineral metabolism.

Mineral and vitamin supplements containing phosphorus, magnesium, and selenium are useful. Physiotherapy is used - massage to improve blood supply to muscles and bones, mud therapy.

Timely and competent treatment of concomitant diseases is necessary. This is especially true for endocrine pathologies, including diabetes mellitus and diseases of the adrenal glands. Attention should be paid to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

The following measures are of great importance:

1. Dosed, coordinated with a specialist, physical activity to strengthen muscles and bones.
2. A proper diet high in calcium - dairy and fermented milk products, cabbage, beets, nuts, greens. It is important to eat fractional meals, it is important to use greens, fruits and vegetables raw.
3. Quitting bad habits.
4. Long walks in sunny weather.

Testosterone deficiency can be partially corrected by consuming certain foods containing zinc and other trace elements. These include the following foods:

• fatty sea fish;
• olive oil;
• oysters;
• beans, peas, lentils;
• almonds (it is very useful to eat 9-10 nuts a day);
• onions and garlic.

The use of folk remedies

Traditional methods of combating osteoporosis are used only as an auxiliary component. The goal is to improve mineral metabolism. At home, the following remedies have a positive effect:

1. Mumiyo. Dilute an amount of the substance the size of a match head in 100 ml of water. Take 2 times a day 30 minutes before meals.
2. Parsley and dill. Take 200 g of greens and pour 1 liter of boiling water for 3 hours. Use 100 g of infusion 3 times a day between meals.
3. Lemon juice and honey. Add 1 tbsp to a glass of warm water. a spoonful of juice and the same amount of honey. Drink the solution before meals at least 3 times a day for a long time.
4. St. John's wort herb. Brew 1 tbsp in a glass of boiling water. spoon of vegetable raw materials for 40 minutes. Use 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day, regardless of meals.

Answers to questions

At what age should you start preventing osteoporosis?

You need to take care of bone strength from early childhood. The body must accumulate sufficient amounts of calcium and other minerals, which will make the skeletal elements strong. But for young people, after the formation of the bone frame is completed, preventive intake of vitamin and mineral complexes is also important, especially during the transition periods of the year.

In adulthood, the prevention of osteoporosis in men is to take care to maintain sexual activity. This will help maintain testosterone synthesis at the level necessary to maintain men's health and strong bones. It is better to spend some effort, time and money on preventing pathology than on treating it .

What foods contain the most calcium?

A good addition to treatment is to eat foods high in calcium. These include:

• milk and fermented milk products, hard cheeses;
• vegetables and herbs - young nettle, basil, parsley, broccoli, rose hips;
• nuts and seeds - sesame, poppy seeds, almonds;
• grains - beans, soybeans;
• sea ​​fish - sardines, salmon, cod;
• egg yolks.

What sports are suitable for patients with osteoporosis?

Strength exercises, including training on machines, have a good effect. But they can only be carried out after medical consultation. Walking at a comfortable pace, jogging, and swimming are helpful. Daily physical activity should take about 30 minutes, but not cause fatigue or irritation.

To avoid falls and fractures, you need exercises to coordinate movements and develop a sense of balance. They should be performed at a slow pace. Doctors also recommend dancing and yoga.

Weightlifting, boxing, gaming and extreme sports are contraindicated. Jumping and sudden flexion of the spine in the lumbar region are prohibited.

Which doctor should I contact?

If bone pain occurs, you should contact your local physician, who, if necessary, will refer you to a traumatologist or orthopedist. Specialists will conduct the necessary examinations. Consultations with a rheumatologist and endocrinologist may be required.

Conclusion

The course of osteoporosis in men has its own characteristics. This disease can result in life-threatening problems and lead to disability. It is important to know the first symptoms of pathology in order to receive timely and competent medical care, normalize nutrition and lifestyle.

In a healthy body, mineral exchange occurs between the blood and bone tissue that makes up the human skeleton. At the same time, the bone tissue receives the elements it needs: calcium and phosphorus.

Osteoporosis is a pathological disease in which the mineral metabolism between the blood and bone tissue is disrupted, and only the “emptying” of calcium and phosphorus reserves in the bones occurs.

Bone density and mass throughout the body begin to decline, leading to increased bone fragility. Fractures can occur due to minimal load on them.

Osteoporosis begins to develop when the amount of calcium and phosphorus in the body decreases, which leads to decreased bone density

Please note: Osteoporosis usually develops very slowly. From the moment the disease develops until its symptoms appear, it can take 10 to 15 years.

Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones lose their strength, become more fragile and susceptible to fracture. When the disease occurs, the calcium content in the bones decreases, which is necessary to maintain their shape and strength. This leads to changes in the structure of bone tissue. As a result, the risk of fractures increases significantly.

A disease such as osteoporosis does not in itself affect your well-being. Its danger lies in the fact that a person, even with a minor injury, can experience a fracture, the consequences of which can be very serious.

Osteoporosis is a systemic disease. Externally manifested in fractures of the femur, vertebral bones or forearm bones, this disease gradually destroys all the bones of the skeleton without exception.

The main cause of osteoporosis is the leaching of mineral salts from hard bone tissue. Due to the lack of these salts, the bones become so fragile that the slightest mechanical impact can provoke a fracture. With this diagnosis, a person can break a leg or arm from falling from a height or sharply turning a joint.

Bones with osteoporosis do not lose mineral density overnight. The process lasts for years: from the moment the disease appears to the first fracture caused by it, ten or even fifteen years can pass.

Osteoporosis is a condition in which bone density decreases, causing it to become brittle and prone to pathological fractures. In other words, osteoporosis is increased “porosity” of the skeleton.

Reasons

Our body in general and the skeletal system in particular are designed in such a way that in the course of its life, the bone is constantly destroyed and restored again, that is, renewed. If bone destruction occurs faster than restoration, osteoporosis develops.

Normally, bone grows until the age of 30-35, reaching “peak” bone mass. Then a natural decrease in bone mass begins, which is no more than 1% per year.

In women during menopause, loss of bone mass can occur faster, since a deficiency of female sex hormones - estrogens - contributes to the development of osteoporosis.

The most typical explanation for primary male osteoporosis is hypogonadism, i.e. deficiency of estrogen and testosterone hormone. The lack of this hormone has a negative effect at all stages of remodulation (natural constant renewal) of bone tissue.

Limited testosterone production is fraught with both accelerated destruction of the bone structure and slower recovery.

The disease in many cases affects people with unfavorable heredity.

Another important negative factor may be short stature and low body weight.

Secondary osteoporosis in men develops against the background of hyperthyroidism, rickets, malabsorption, malignant neoplasms, rheumatoid arthritis, and liver failure.

​To eradicate pathology, you will need a lot of effort. Treatment for this disease is as follows: therapeutic physical education, reasonable activity, massage treatments and drug treatment.​

​heredity (genetic predisposition to osteoporosis);​

​long-term immobilization (bed rest for more than 2 months) - after operations, fractures;​

As a result of research, it has been established that in men the cause of osteoporosis can be a large group of concomitant diseases that have to be treated in parallel with osteoporosis. Diseases act in two directions - they reduce the absorption of nutrients or affect the cells that renew and destroy bone tissue, these are:

• chronic liver and kidney diseases;
• chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases;
• malignant neoplasms;
• multiple sclerosis;
• hyperparathyroidism;
• diabetes mellitus;
• hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease);
• rheumatoid arthritis;
• male hypogonadism, a disease caused by testicular failure.

Information has appeared in the medical literature about the effect of somatic diseases on male osteoporosis - hypertension, stroke, coronary heart disease and heart attack.

Classification

Primary osteoporosis

Primary (involutional, postmenopausal, senile or senile) osteoporosis. It usually develops in old age (after 50 years). Risk factors for primary osteoporosis include:

• old age;
• fragile physique;
• small height;
• indications of fractures in the family history;
• late onset of menstruation (after 15 years);
• early cessation of menstruation (before 50 years);
• scanty and infrequent menstruation;
• infertility;
• long-term lactation (more than 6 months).

Primary osteoporosis develops in women 4-5 times more often than in men.

Secondary osteoporosis

What is it? Secondary osteoporosis develops when processes develop in the human body that change the metabolism of bone tissue (decreasing its mass). The causes of secondary osteoporosis include the following hormonal imbalances:

1. increased activity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), diabetes mellitus, hyperparathyroidism, hypercortisolism (develops due to long-term use of corticosteroids, or as a consequence of chronic diseases).
2. In addition, the causes of development can be: leukemia (leukemia), multiple myeloma, metastatic lesions of bone tissue, thalassemia

Signs of osteoporosis in men

In the early stages, osteoporosis is almost impossible to recognize by external signs. If this disease is suspected, the doctor will prescribe densitometry - an examination designed to monitor changes in the bone structure.

Now about the signs. Many of you are probably thinking: what is the difference between the symptoms of osteoporosis and the signs. Symptoms are what we feel and can assume about the presence of a disease, and signs are what we observe, that is, what already indicates the onset of the disease.

Symptoms of osteoporosis

At the first stage, the disease does not manifest itself acutely, but still some distinctive features in women after 50 years, and sometimes even after 40, can be noticed:

1. Discomfort and stiffness when moving.
2. Pain in the back and joints, intensifying after physical activity.
3. Reducing a woman's height by 2-3 cm.
4. Formation of a “widow’s” hump, when the disease leads to skeletal deformation.
5. Increasing cases of fractures due to minor injuries.

In order not to be a regular visitor to the emergency room in old age, it is worth starting prevention long before the first signs of the disease appear.

Osteoporotic disease develops especially often in adolescents during puberty and in adult men at the age of maximum sexual activity, i.e. up to 45 years.

The predominant form of the primary disease is idiopathic. Pensioners are characterized by senile osteoporosis.

See the definition of terms in the article on types of disease.

External signs of the disease include:

• thoracic kyphosis;
• gait disturbances;
• pain.

Hormonal problems are sometimes indicated by disturbances in sexual function and changes in the size of the testicles.

​previous fractures.​

​The use of certain medications, such as glucocorticoids;​

​symptomatic painkillers.​

​If the lumbar region is affected, lower back pain and age-related decrease in height (up to 15 cm) come to the fore.​​Lead a correct, healthy lifestyle.​

Risk factors for the disease

• ​In this case, there should be 2 times more calcium than other microelements.​
• ​age (men over 60 years of age are most at risk);​
• ​calcium;​
• ​Lifestyle changes, including stopping smoking, reducing excessive alcohol consumption, regular exercise and a balanced diet with increased levels of calcium and vitamin D. And as much sun exposure as possible.​
• ​Drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis are grouped into separate groups depending on their active component.​
• ​Long periods of inactivity, such as prolonged bed rest.​
• ​Alcohol abuse;​

​Diet For osteoporosis, you need a sufficient daily intake of calcium and vitamin D3 from food. To do this, you need to have a large amount of dairy and fermented milk products, fish, egg yolks, nuts and broccoli in your diet.​

Symptoms of the disease

Diagnosis of osteoporosis

For early diagnosis of osteoporosis, densitometry is used to determine bone mineral density and predict the risk of developing a fracture.

This study is classified as an X-ray study (however, the radiation exposure is minimal). With it, the bones are illuminated by X-rays and, if the strength of the bone is reduced, then it blocks fewer rays.

Osteoporosis is a disease that lies at the intersection of many medical disciplines. The search for its causes most often begins in the office of a gynecologist, endocrinologist or therapist. Sometimes, in the case when the manifestation of the disease manifests itself as a pathological fracture, it may be a traumatologist - an orthopedist.

The following conditions are taken into account as indications for the densitometry procedure:

• early onset of menopause;
• anorexia;
• secondary amenorrhea (long-term course);
• renal failure (chronic);
• hypogonadism (primary);
• hyperparathyroidism;
• low testosterone (relevant in particular for men);
• malnutrition;
• estrogen deficiency;
• the presence of diseases that may be associated with osteoporosis (spondyloarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteochondrosis, etc.);
• therapy with corticosteroids.

Diagnosis of osteoporosis includes:

• An X-ray examination, in which an X-ray image of the bone is taken and the color saturation in the image is used to judge the condition of the bone and its density. The lighter the frame, the stronger the violation.
• Absorptiometry is the diagnosis of a disease using two beams, and not one, as with a densitometer. The more the bone absorbs radiation, the more serious and extensive the destruction.
• Ultrasound. In this case, the absorption rate of ultrasound is taken into account; the higher it is, the more obvious the disturbances in the structure of bone tissue are.
• Single-photon densinometry. This method is based on determining bone tissue density and takes no more than 15 minutes.
  Computed tomography.
• Biochemical blood test. Using it, you can determine the exact content of calcium, alkaline photophase, vitamin D, parathyroid hormone and phosphorus in the blood.

Treatment of osteoporosis

After a man contacts a specialist, the doctor must establish an accurate diagnosis, exclude or identify concomitant diseases, and then prescribe the necessary treatment to the patient. Rheumatologists treat osteoporosis.

To identify osteoporosis, examinations are used using the following methods:

• Trephine biopsy - this procedure involves collecting bone marrow by puncturing the bone with a specially designed needle.
• Scintigraphy – allows you to obtain a two-dimensional image and is performed after the introduction of radioactive isotopes into the body.
• MRI.
• General and biochemical blood test (allows you to find out whether osteoporosis is caused by bone tuberculosis. If the cause of bone liquefaction is tuberculosis, the white blood cell count will be significantly elevated).
• Level of testosterone in the blood.

drugs that slow down bone resorption (“dissolution” of bone):

• bisphosphonates;
• calcitonin;
• estrogens (female sex hormones);

drugs that enhance bone formation:

• teriparatide;
• drugs that have a multifaceted effect on bone tissue:
• active metabolites of vitamin D;
• strontium salts.

To decide whether to prescribe any of these medications, you should consult a doctor. In each specific case, therapy is selected individually.

Remember that treating osteoporosis is much more expensive and less effective than preventing it. Much depends on you.

It is necessary to take good care of your bones, from early childhood to old age.

During the treatment period, and if possible in the future, the patient should completely stop smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages. The lifestyle should be active, but strong sudden loads should be avoided in order to prevent fractures of vulnerable bones.

Let's name some specific drugs: alendronate, teriparatide, calcitonin, vitamin D.

Osteoporosis is treated with medication; people with endocrine system disorders are prescribed medications that will help restore hormonal levels. Older people are prescribed nutritional supplements rich in calcium and vitamin D. Women during menopause are prescribed hormone replacement therapy, as well as bisphosphonates.

Doctors will prescribe a special diet, physical therapy, and massages to absolutely all patients. Of course, any force loads should be minimal - only a specialist will be able to select an adequate training program taking into account the degree of bone fragility.

The main goal in the treatment of osteoporosis is to reduce bone loss while simultaneously intensifying the process of its restoration. Comprehensive treatment of osteoporosis includes hormonal therapy (estrogens, androgens, gestagens), vitamin D, bisphosphonates, calcitonin.

Drugs used in the treatment of osteoporosis:

• Drugs that stimulate bone formation: bioflavonoids, vitamin D3; salts of strontium, calcium and fluorine
• Drugs to suppress bone resorption: bisphosphonates (zoledronic acid, risedronate, ibandronate, alendronate, pamidronate), calcitonin, natural estrogens
• Hormonal drugs for osteoporosis are selected depending on gender, age and risk factors. When choosing drugs for women, the phase of menopause, the presence of the uterus and the woman’s desire to have menstrual-like reactions in the postmenstrual period are taken into account.

Unfortunately, today it is impossible to completely cure osteoporosis, however, with the help of drugs that affect the absorption and subsequent absorption of calcium, the condition of the skeletal system can be significantly improved.

Therapeutic exercise

A healthy lifestyle is a big and sure step in the treatment of osteoporosis. The concept of a healthy lifestyle in this case means therapeutic exercises, massage and sunbathing.

Regular gymnastics (at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes) will allow you to achieve bone tissue growth by 3-5% in just a couple of months.

It is advisable that the set of exercises be selected by a specialist - only he will be able to calculate the load required on the body, taking into account the characteristics and capabilities of the patient being treated.

Before using any folk remedies, be sure to consult your doctor.

1. Licorice naked. Grind the root of the plant, pour a tablespoon of raw material into 0.45 liters of hot water, soak in a water sauna for half an hour, leave for 90 minutes, filter. Take ½ glass four times a day before meals.
2. You need to mix 100 g of propolis and 50 g of buckwheat honey. Then add 100 g of crushed and pre-dried eggshells in the oven. It is recommended to take the resulting mixture two teaspoons once a day.
3. Eggshells for bone osteoporosis. Egg shells are crushed into powder (using a blender), and then mixed with lemon juice in a 1:1 ratio. The drug is taken orally, ¼ or ½ teaspoon for two weeks, after which a break is taken for a week.
4. Fresh young nettle juice helps with fractures in the femoral neck. It is recommended to rub it into the affected area twice a day.
5. Infusions of various herbs are very effective. To prepare them, you can use St. John's wort, dandelion roots and others. You need to pour a tablespoon of herb into 220 ml of boiling water. The cooled liquid is drunk throughout the day.
6. Shilajit is taken orally. To do this, you need to make a small ball of 2-4 grams and dissolve it in 100 g of warm water. The drug is taken for 3-4 weeks, after which a break is taken. It has been proven that mumiyo is the best folk remedy for treating osteoporosis in women and men.

The list of beneficial herbs and medicinal plants is wide, but you must understand that not all of them can be used to treat bone disease. For example, natural foods that contain oxalic acid will only worsen the course of the disease.

Effect of medications

Medicines have different effects on bone tissue and cartilage. Bone resorption inhibitors (bisphosphonates, calcitonins, hormone replacement therapy) reduce the activity of osteoblasts - cells that destroy bone tissue.

Preparations based on fluoride, strontium, parathyroid hormone, and anabolic steroids stimulate mineralization and bone formation. Calcium is the main component of bone, increases its strength, and participates in the synthesis of bone tissue. Vitamin D helps the absorption of calcium, promotes the synthesis of bones and cartilage.

How to treat osteoporosis with folk remedies?

There is a large group of medications that can cause osteoporosis. Some of them cannot be canceled for health reasons, since the patient requires constant treatment. Osteoporosis in men can be caused by:

• diuretics - Lasix, furosemide and others, they remove calcium salts along with urine;
• drugs based on thyroid hormones;
• drugs that reduce the level of male sex hormones in the blood are prescribed for prostate cancer;
• radiation and chemotherapy - reduce the production of estrogen, reduce bone density;
• anticonvulsants for long-term use;
• glucocorticosteroids - hydrocortisone, dexamezatone, prednisolone;
• drugs containing aluminum in large dosages reduce calcium absorption;
• long-term use of heparin.

Reducing the dosage or stopping medications without the recommendation of the attending physician may harm the treatment and cause an exacerbation of the existing disease.

Prevention of osteoporosis

Calcium and healthy bones

Adequate calcium intake is an important part of the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, as it helps maintain bone density. Decreased calcium intake increases the risk of fractures.

Adequate calcium intake is necessary throughout life. The table below shows the recommended calcium intake for people of different genders and ages.

It is advisable to consume with food an amount of calcium sufficient to cover the daily requirement. This will help prevent calcium loss from bones. Milk and dairy products are the richest in calcium (see table below). To calculate your daily calcium intake from food, you can use the following formula.

Daily calcium intake, mg. = calcium from dairy products, mg. 350 mg. Calcium content in various foods

Let's highlight three of the most effective ways to help fight age-related changes that are destructive to bone tissue:

1. Taking vitamins and medications.
2. Complete nutrition rich in vitamins and minerals, as well as unsaturated fatty acids.
3. Physical activity.

Drugs for the prevention of osteoporosis

Prevention of osteoporosis should begin at an early age. Let us again turn to the sad statistics, which say that 25% of school-age children experience a decrease in bone tissue. Therefore, give your child foods containing calcium, such as milk and cottage cheese, as often as possible.

Prevention of osteoporosis involves:

• Switching to a healthy diet with plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits, berries, dairy products, fish;
• Taking medications containing calcium, vitamin D3 and other multivitamin complexes;
• Be careful, avoid fractures, bruises, cracks;
• Maintaining an active lifestyle: dancing, roller skating, skating, morning or evening jogging, swimming, staying in the fresh air for a long time;
• Take all medications with great caution and under the supervision of a physician.

The term “osteoporosis” comes from Greek and means “porous bones.”. The name accurately conveys the essence of the disease: with osteoporosis, bones lose strength and flexibility, and easily break due to bruises or falls. Degenerative processes affect the entire skeleton, but the bones of the hips, forearms and spine are most affected.

The disease is most often observed in older women, although it can occur at a fairly young age. Men suffer from osteoporosis 4 times less often.

Causes of osteoporosis

The explanation for why the disease is more common in older women is as follows: the level of estrogen in the body sharply decreases, the effect of which is opposite to the effect exerted by parathyroid hormone, which promotes the leaching of calcium from the bones. With the onset of menopause, women on average lose up to 2% of their bone mass in one year. This process directly depends on the decrease in the level of female sex hormones.

Bones also become fragile due to artificially induced menopause, which is mainly caused by operations to remove the ovaries.

Since men's bone mass is significantly higher than women's, their risk of osteoporetic fractures increases later - by approximately 10 years (that is, after reaching 70-75 years).

Experts tend to consider changes in bone structure to be the main cause of the pathology., associated with a change in the quantitative ratio of certain minerals in the composition of bone tissue. These changes may be associated with age, characteristics of the body, or certain pathological conditions.

Risk factors, contributing to the occurrence of the disease, can be divided into two groups:

• objective - not subject to change;
• subjective - those that can be adjusted.

The first group includes:

• being female;
• age factor (the likelihood of developing the disease is especially relevant in persons over 60-65 years old);
• thin and weak skeletal system;
• genetic predisposition.

The second group consists of the following circumstances:

• lack of foods containing vitamin D and calcium in the diet;
• alcohol abuse;
• smoking;
• long-term use of certain groups of medications: anticonvulsants, diuretics, hormonal drugs, corticosteroids, anticoagulants;
• physical inactivity;
• overweight.

Some pathologies also contribute to the occurrence of the disease:

• dysfunction of the thyroid gland;
• diseases leading to decreased ovarian function;
• renal failure;
• in which it is necessary to use glucocorticosteroid drugs;
• diabetes mellitus;
• gastric diseases and gastric resection performed in connection with them;
• multiple myeloma;
• kidney diseases.

In men, favorable conditions for the development of the disease are:

• old age (from 70 years);
• osteopenia (can be detected during an X-ray examination);
• taking glucocorticoids for a long time;
• hyperparathyroidism;
• hypogonadism (insufficient secretion of androgens);
• other factors contributing to metabolic disorders in bone tissue.

Symptoms of osteoporosis

Experts have dubbed osteoporosis the silent epidemic because it rarely shows itself in its early stages. Patients may not be aware of its presence until an accidental fracture occurs. By that time, the structure of bone tissue has already been significantly changed.

The first signs of the disease are usually nonspecific.

1. Patients experience aching pain in the back. Most often they occur as a result of prolonged static position (sitting, standing, etc.).
2. Pain sensations can be concentrated in the sacrum, lower back, and ankle joint. These symptoms should be a reason to consult a doctor.
3. As the disease progresses, back pain becomes severe. Its cause is destructive changes in the vertebrae, as a result of which the nerve endings are injured, which leads to unpleasant sensations.
4. Changes in posture and the appearance of senile stoop. This symptom is associated with uneven deformation of the bone tissue of the vertebrae, which most often occurs in the anterior sections.
5. Decreased height (within 5 cm).
6. Development of the characteristic “aristocratic hump” as a result of deformation of 8-10 thoracic vertebrae.

Of the listed symptoms, the most characteristic sign of incipient osteoporosis is pain syndrome. It can be observed for several days and sometimes for several months. Pain is the result of compression of nerve fibers due to changes in adjacent vertebrae.

If the pathological process in the knee joint or spinal column has reached a significant level, pain may occur even as a result of prolonged sitting in an uncomfortable position or after slight physical activity.

Osteoporosis pain is not constant. Most often, it occurs periodically, and during periods of remission a person can feel completely healthy and only occasionally experience discomfort.

Symptoms that should prompt a detailed examination for the presence of osteoporosis:

• increased fatigue;
• leg muscle cramps (mainly observed at night);
• brittle nails, delamination of the nail plate;
• dullness of hair, hair loss, premature graying.

Diagnostics

To diagnose the disease, the following is prescribed:

• analysis of the biochemical composition of blood for osteocalcin, the concentration of which is a reflection of the metabolic activity of osteoblasts of bone tissue;
• urine test (for deoxypyridinoline, a characteristic marker of bone tissue destruction).

Instrumental examinations are also carried out. The main ones are X-ray diffraction and osted densitometry.

X-ray examination is not informative in the early stages of the disease.

The most reliable method of diagnosis is densitometry. It is divided into two types:

• X-ray;
• ultrasonic

Currently, it is most often carried out x-ray osted densitometry.

It is a method by which the mineral density of bone tissue and its calcium content, which is the main structural component of bones, are determined.

Densitometry is also indicated in the presence of rheumatological, endocrine and other diseases that contribute to the development of osteoporosis. The method is completely safe and painless. In addition to identifying the presence of osteoporosis, it is also used to determine:

• likelihood of fractures;
• points of lowest bone density at which fracture may occur;
• quantitative characteristics of bone loss;
• effectiveness of the use of medications.

Using ultrasound densitometry, information is obtained about the mechanical characteristics of bones and the likelihood of fractures.

While in women the disease is often detected during a routine osteodensitometric examination, in men osteoporosis is mainly diagnosed only after fractures of the hip or spine.

Treatment of osteoporosis

The optimal method of treating osteoporosis is complex therapy. It should include:

• drug therapy;
• massage;
• physical activity;
• following a special diet.

Medicines for the treatment of this disease can be divided into three types:

1. Drugs that prevent bone loss: bisphosphonates, calcitonites.
2. Medicines that stimulate bone development and growth: anabolic steroids, fluoride salts.
3. Medicines that have a multifaceted effect: active metabolites of vitamin D, ossein.

When treating women, hormone replacement therapy is used. Men are recommended to be prescribed the male sex hormone, testosterone.

Additionally, patients are prescribed high-calcium nutritional supplements and a special diet.

The effectiveness of the diet is associated not only with the calcium content in foods, but also with the percentage of calcium and phosphorus: calcium should be 1.5-2 times more. In addition, it is fully absorbed by the body only in the presence of certain proteins and fats (for the absorption of vitamin D), as well as certain microelements and vitamins: magnesium, manganese, copper, zinc, boron, folic acid, vitamins B6, K, C.

The diet should contain:

• milk, dairy products;
• all varieties of cabbage;
• turnip;
• carrot;
• pumpkin seeds;
• walnuts;
• sunflower seeds;
• vegetable oils.

Some foods interfere with calcium absorption. They should be excluded:

• products made from premium flour;
• sugar;
• semi-finished meat products.