Daily Medical Records

Archive for the ‘Osteoporosis’ Category

What are selective modulators of estrogen receptors?

Selective modulators of estrogen receptors (raloxifene, etc.) are drugs that have effects similar to estrogen in the bones and blood vessels, but have no effect on either the breast or uterus. They are especially useful in women who have had breast cancer and need treatment for osteoporosis. Unlike hormone replacement therapy (HRT), these drugs do not prevent menopausal symptoms like hot flashes.

What are bisphosphonates?

In all people, the bone is continually challenged, reabsorbed and reshaped. Bisphosphonates decrease the rate of bone turnover, thereby increasing the amount of bone.

These drugs are particularly useful in patients with severe osteoporosis, which reduce the frequency of fractures. The number of fractures prevented is too small to justify treating other patients with milder forms of osteoporosis. Read the rest of this entry »

What medication can be helpful?

The medications most commonly used in women with osteoporosis are:

- Calcium and vitamin D

- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after menopause

- Selective modulators of estrogen receptors

- Bisphosphonates.

Who should take calcium and vitamin D?

Calcium supplements and vitamin D are generally useful for most people with osteoporosis. These supplements are especially useful in people with low calcium intake, usually because they take less milk, cheese or yogurt. Read the rest of this entry »

What can you do to prevent osteoporosis?

- Exercise regularly.

- Follow a diet with adequate amounts of calcium (milk, cheese or yogurt).

- Ensure adequate intake of vitamin D in the form of fatty fish or by moderate sun exposure (30 minutes daily).

- No smoking.

- Those included in the high-risk groups, noted above, it is desirable to perform densitometry.

How are fractures?

Hip fractures often require surgical treatment with insertion of prosthesis, metal plates or screws. Forearm fractures requiring cast immobilization for a period of four weeks, until it forms a callus. Vertebral fractures are treated with rest and pain relief. Pain may be declining gradually over a period of about three months. Read the rest of this entry »

Who is most at risk for osteoporosis?

The probability of loss of bone mineral content is higher in women with early menopause (before age 45 years) or who have their ovaries removed. You can also occur in people with intestinal disorders, which are disrupted in the absorption of food.

A particular problem exists in people with diseases that require treatment with steroids such as prednisone. They are especially at risk people who need more than 7.5 milligrams of prednisone (or equivalent) per day for a long period of time. Treatment with steroids for short periods are less harmful to the bone.

The men to whom they have removed the testicles (the source of male hormones) are also at increased risk for osteoporosis. Read the rest of this entry »

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones lose calcium and weaken, facilitating the occurrence of fractures. Fractures occur most frequently in the hip bones, the vertebrae of the spine and the bones of the wrist. Vertebral fractures can cause loss of height and deformity of the rib cage.

What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis does not cause symptoms unless there are fractures. It is a misconception attributed to chronic pain osteoporosis. Even in people with osteoporosis such symptoms usually have another cause of back pain is often due to wear of the joints of the spine. An unusual cause of pain, it can be attributed to osteoporosis occurs when multiple vertebral collapse and the patient’s spine is tilted forward so that the bottom edge of the ribs can to contact the pelvis. Read the rest of this entry »