MALABAR HOSPITALS

next FREE Bone mineral density SCAN camp will be on 9th march friday ! bookings are open ! the camp will start by 9Am at the Malabar Hospitals And Urology centre Premesis !

more information on osteoporosis follows
This article will focus on the role of bone mineral density (BMD) evaluation.
How does osteoporosis occur?
In order to understand the role of bone mineral density scanning, it is important to know a little about how osteoporosis occurs. Bone is constantly being remodeled. This is the natural, healthy state of continuous uptake of old bone (resorption) followed by the deposit of new bone. This turnover is important in keeping bones healthy and in repairing any minor damage that may occur with wear and tear. The cells that lay new bone down are called osteoblasts, and the cells responsible for resorption of old bone are called osteoclasts. Osteoporosis occurs as a result of a mismatch between osteoclast and osteoblast activity. This mismatch can be caused by many different disease states or hormonal changes. It is also commonly a result of aging. In osteoporosis, osteoclasts outperform osteoblasts so that more bone is taken up than is laid down. The result is a thinning of the bone with an accompanying loss in bone strength and a greater risk of fracture. A thinning bone results in a lower bone density or bone mass.
There are two major types of bone. Cancellous bone (also known as trabecular bone) is seen in areas such as the spine and wrists. This type of bone normally undergoes a rapid rate of turnover. As a result, if osteoclast and osteoblast activity become mismatched, cancellous bone is affected rapidly. Cortical bone is located in the arms and legs. This type of bone is metabolically slower than cancellous bone, and is therefore less affected by alterations in bone turnover. There is a normal rate of decline in bone mass with age in both men and women. For women, in addition to age, the menopause transition itself causes an extra degree of bone loss. This bone loss is greatest in the first 3 to 6 years after menopause. Since women generally have a lower bone mass to begin with in comparison with men, the ultimate result is a higher risk of fracture in postmenopausal women as compared to men of the same age. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that men may also be at risk for osteoporosis, especially if they have certain illnesses, a low testosterone level, are smokers, take certain medications, or are sedentary



MORE INFORMATION ON BMD AND OSTEOPOROSIS FOLLOWS IN COMING issues !


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