Where the bones thin and weaken from calcium depletion Osteoporosis is a disease that usually affects seniors and the elderly. Many women and also a lot of men suffer from thin bones and osteoporosis. Many are not diagnosed until they actually suffer a fracture Unfortunately. Most people with low bone mass remain undiagnosed with up to 18 million Americans in this category compared to about 10 million actually diagnosed with osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition that affects the bones, causing them to become thin and weak. In old age it happens more commonly when the body becomes less able to replace worn out bone. Special cells within the bones, called living bone cells, are no longer able to effectively break down old bone and renew it with healthy, dense new bone.
You also lose a certain amount of bone as you get older, causing the bones to become thinner. The bones become fragile and more likely to break (fracture), particularly the bones of the spine, wrist, and hips.
A living tissue that is constantly repairing itself is bone. It is made of a hard outer shell, which contains a mesh of collagen (tough elastic fibres), minerals, blood vessels and bone marrow. With spaces between the different parts this mesh looks a bit like a honeycomb,.. In bone affected by osteoporosis, the spaces are larger, making the bones weaker and less elastic. Healthy bones are very dense, and the spaces within bones are small
By a range of proteins and minerals bones are repaired and reinforced, which are absorbed from the bloodstream. They include calcium, phosphorus, proteins and amino acids. The growth of sex hormones control the amount of mineral substance deposited in the bones. Changes in hormone levels can therefore affect the strength of the bones. For example, the female hormone oestrogen offers some protection against osteoporosis. After the menopause, oestrogen levels fall, often causing the bones to thin quickly.
