Osteoporosis

Elizabeth Solares

With an estimated three million cases per year in the United States, Americans are vulnerable to the prevalence of this disease despite Osteoporosis also being considered a "silent" disorder (NIAMS, 2023). As the condition typically entails moderate signs if any at all, the likelihood of fractures increases with the severity of bone brittleness. Having such painful results, it is essential to understand the causation and the preventative measures for Osteoporosis. In particular, we will be discussing the linked onset of Osteoporosis amongst women with compromised endocrine systems.

The following information will give us a glimpse into the workings of bone disease and how it is strongly associated with the endocrine system.

What is Osteoporosis?

Weakening the body through substantial loss of mass, Osteoporosis is a disease that deteriorates the proper health of the human bone (NIH, 2017). The bone structure is affected due to a decrease in mineral density, leaving the skeleton brittle. With significant bone degradation, the body cannot repair itself with new bone at a pace to match the loss.

The bone matter, initially dense and closely woven, slowly degenerates over time as Osteoporosis destroys the bone tissue faster than the body can heal.

(Medical News Today, 2023)

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/stages-of-osteoporosis#stage-1

How does it occur?

The most common bone disease, our skeletons simply become more fragile as we age. Bones are strongest during our adolescence up until our mid-twenties, and then bone loss begins as early as our mid-thirties (NIAMS, 2023). The prevalence of Osteoporosis may be attributed to genetics in some cases, while it can be onset by an unknown cause on the other hand (Penn, 2023). Certain medicines, body inflammation brought on by other ailments, and confined mobility are less common causes.

Focusing on how hormones play a role, they are needed for the development of healthy bone growth; therefore, having an endocrine system disorder disrupts the proper hormone balance for maintaining bone density and leads to the onset of Osteoporosis (Penn, 2023).

COMMON CAUSES AT A GLANCE:

genetics
certain medicines
body inflammation
confined mobility
unknown causes

Induced BY Hormones

Women are more commonly affected by Osteoporosis, with reports finding that they are four times more likely to develop bone disease than men (NIH, 2017). In light of this revelation, research has found a significant link between menopause and Osteoporosis -- but why?

As mentioned previously, our peak bone health is estimated to be within our late adolescence. This, in turn, means that we slowly deplete bone density as we age. The nature of bone maturation is tied to how our body grows with us. Just as we grow during puberty, our skeletal growth is incited by hormonal regulation. Hormonal signals are a key element for our skeletal condition (NIH, 2017).

When menopause occurs, the body reduces its levels of estrogen, which can leave a person with an increased risk of developing Osteoporosis. The bone disease is closely related to estrogen deficiency, so as women go through menopause (particularly women within the age group of 65 and older) their lower levels of estrogen may become associated with decreased bone health due to the onset of Osteoporosis (NIH, 2017). The exact cause is still unknown, however, the strong association between hormones (with a strong emphasis on the role of estrogen) and bone disease is heavily studied (NIH, 2017).

(Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation, 2022)

https://www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org/patients/what-is-osteoporosis/

(INTIMINA, 2024)

https://www.intimina.com/blog/early-menopause-and-your-health/

Symptoms

While the disease may develop without showing signs, some common symptoms include (MayoClinic, 2024):

Strain and stress on the body: In doing actions as normal as lifting, bending, or coughing, the strain on the body could result in fractures due to the fragility of the bone's state.
Broken bones from low-impact falls: The key element of Osteoporosis, bone fractures (and the frequency of them) may occur after falls that would not damage bone of normal health.
Spinal deformity
Back pain: The vertebrae, collapsing on itself as it weakens, forms sharp pains.
Height loss and hunched posture: The spinal bones become flatter, leading to the compression of the spine and a shorter stature.

The image above depicts a healthy spine slowly compress over time, resulting in the visible hunched posture that is associated with the disease.

(Verywell Health, 2023)

https://www.verywellhealth.com/osteoporosis-4012671

The video above explores the linked causation of Osteoporosis with a dysfunctional endocrine system.(Cleveland Clinic, 2022).

On the left is an x-ray of a healthy bone, while the right depicts the x-ray of a person affected by Osteoporosis.

(Healthline, 2021)

https://www.healthline.com/health/osteoporosis

Treatments

Although the disease remains incurable, there are effective treatments to combat the health risks caused by Osteoporosis. From balancing hormones to injections targeting bone mass, the array of remedies can eliminate further injury, with a great emphasis placed on broken bones, brought on by Osteoporosis (MayoClinic, 2024).

Bisphosphonates: The most common prescription for the disease, the medication prevents bone from losing minerals, especially calcium. The medication essentially slows or even stops the turnover of bone resorption, thereby promoting the increase of bone minerals. Bisphosphonates are most commonly administered as Alendronate, Ibandronate, Risedronate, and Zoledronic Acid (MayoClinic, 2024).

Hormone-Induced Therapy: Seeing how Osteoporosis is closely associated with hormonal disorder, the regulation of hormones in the body have proven effective for decreasing the impact of Osteoporosis. In women, estrogen therapy can benefit bone as the hormone stimulates the body's production of osteoblasts. Osteoblasts regulate the metabolism of bone, leading to a healthy maintenance of bone density (Penn, 2023).

Medicines for Bone Health: In more severe cases, more potent drugs such as Teriparatide, Abaloparatide, and Romosozumab can also promote the stimulation of bone growth. Viable in the form of injections, the medications help the body recover bone at a pace that can combat the rapid rate of bone loss onset by Osteoporosis (MayoClinic, 2024).

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