How to take care of your bones

Most of us have heard about weak bones and broken bones; but have you heard of ‘porous’ bones?

This is a common affliction and it occurs with aging. Bones are living tissue and they become less dense and therefore more porous with age, resulting in fragile bones.

Porous bones in themselves are not a disease unless you begin to suffer from one or more of the following symptoms or problems over a period, in which case it could be a harbinger of osteoporosis;

A bone is composed of protein, collagen, and calcium – elements which contribute to its strength.

However, with the onset of osteoporosis, even minor falls or injuries which would not normally cause a fracture would result in a break, either in the form of a crack (hip fracture) or collapsing (compression fracture of the vertebrae of the spine).

The main areas prone to these injuries are the spine, hips, ribs, and wrists, though it can occur in any skeletal bone.

Osteoporosis can be present without symptoms for years until one suffers from a bone fractures. Pain caused by a fracture is in most cases the first symptom of osteoporosis. These fractures can occur even while the individual is doing the most mundane of activities like stepping off a curb or walking. (It is however important to remember that every fracture is not a sign of osteoporosis.) Additionally, in an individual suffering from osteoporosis these fractures take longer to heal as the bones are porous.

Usually pain is located in the area of the fracture though fractures of the spine results in severe ‘band-like’ pain that radiates to the sides of the body from the back. With time, repeated spinal fractures result in chronic lower back pain, loss of height and curving of the spine due to collapse of the vertebrae. This curved appearance gives the person a hunched back and is referred to as a ‘dowager hump’.

Causes: