Osteoporosis develops when there’s a low bone density that makes the bones to be weak and fragile and making the person more at risk of fractures. Fractures usually take place in the hip, the spine, and arm- which account for 80% of all bone fractures combined. However, most of these bone fractures are in some cases deadly, with 20% of all hip fractures leading to death.
Osteoporosis Definition: Progression
As bone degeneration is progressive, the majority of the osteoporosis symptoms can be seen not until the condition has gotten to its advance stage. People of all ages and genders are susceptible to osteoporosis and because this is a disease which is comparatively difficult to see, people often call it as the “Silent Epidemic”. In the U.S alone, osteoporosis affects 55% or over 50 million individuals over the age of 50.
Bones are made of a hard covering with an inner blend of collagen, blood vessels, minerals, and bone marrow. Imagine a honeycomb having gaps and spaces in between the hard parts; that’s exactly how the inner structure appears like. Bones with smaller gaps inside increases the bone’s density, which results in harder and stronger bones. Bones suffering from osteoporosis have larger gaps inside, and according to the osteoporosis definition, this leads to weaker bones that are less flexible, more hallow and have a higher chance of fracture.
The bones grow and repair quickly while people are younger. When individuals grow older, the process of bone regeneration and bone repair eventually becomes slower. Bone growth ceases at around the ages of 16 to 18, however the density of the bones still continues to build up till the ages of 27 to 29. Bone density starts to decrease at the age of 35. Although this decrease in bone density is a normal part of the aging process, it could be a factor for osteoporosis and could bring about increased fractures along with other bone related injuries.
Osteoporosis Definition: Information and Statistics
. In statistics around the world, vertebral fractures are estimated to occur once in every 22 seconds where as to fractures as a result of osteoporosis are estimated to occur once in every 3 seconds
. 200 million women around the globe are estimated to have been afflicted with osteoporosis – nearly 1/10 of women in their 60’s, 1/5 of women in their 70’s, 2/5 of women in their 80’s and 2/3 of women in their 90’s.
. In countries like Europe, Japan, and the US, osteoporosis affects approximately 75 million of the total population.
. For the year 2000, 9 million osteoporotic fractures were estimated to have happened. Forearm Fracture: 1.7 million, Hip Fracture: 1.6 million, and Clinical Vertebral Fracture: 1.4 million. 49% of all these fracture cases are coming from the Southeast Asia regions and Western Pacific and the remaining 51% are coming from Europe and America
. 1/5 of men aged 50 and above will have experienced fracture due to osteoporosis and 1/3 of all women aged 50 and above as well.
. Older bone injuries increase the possibility of recurring fractures by roughly 85%
. By the year 2050, it is expected that the incidence of hip fractures in females increases by up to 240% and the occurrence of hip fractures in men will increase by 310%
Melissa Fox is an authority on brittle bones and concentrates strictly on the osteoporosis definition.