Osteoporosis, a condition of fragile bone with an increased susceptibility to fracture, softens bone rigidity and increases the risk of bones cracking.

Osteoporosis  
骨質疏鬆症  

The decisive risk factors for osteoporosis cover genetics, insufficient exercise, insufficient intake of calcium and vitamin D, cigarette smoking, personal history of fracture as an adult, low body weight, excessive alcohol consumption and family history of osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis 類風濕關節炎.  Patients with osteoporosis have no symptoms until bone fractures occur.

Rheumatoid arthritis  
類風濕性關節炎  

Additional to prescription osteoporosis medications, the treatments for osteoporosis include stopping use of alcohol and cigarettes and assuring adequate exercise, calcium, and vitamin D.

Osteoporosis is NOT just for Females

In the age of 50s females undergo more rapid bone loss than males do. But in late 60s male and female lose bone mass at the same rate.

Osteoporosis, the thinning of bone, can result in painful fractures. The risk factors for osteoporosis cover aging, being female, low body weight, low sex hormones or menopause 更年期, smoking, and certain medications. Its prevention and treatment include calcium and vitamin D, exercise, and osteoporosis medications.

Menopause  
更年期  

Until a fracture occurs a person is often not aware that he or she suffers osteoporosis.  Its occasionally symptoms include:

• •     Backache

• •     Fractures of hip, spine or wrist

• •    Progressive loss of height, accompanying stooped posture 駝背姿態

 

There are four types of osteoporosis: primary, secondary, osteogenesis imperfecta, and idiopathic juvenile.

1)
Primary osteoporosis, the most common type, is more common in female. At about 30 in age we reach the peak bone mass (density). After 30 in age the rate of bone loss slowly increases, while the rate of bone building decreases. Whether a person develops osteoporosis depends on the thickness of his/her bones in early life as well as diet, health and physical activity at all his or her ages.

In female, after the monthly menstrual periods stop, accelerated bone loss usually begins . This happens when a female’s production of estrogen slows down (usually between the ages of 45 and 55). In male, at about 45 to 50 of age, gradual bone thinning typically starts when a male’s production of testosterone slows down.  Usually osteoporosis does not have an influence on people until they are 60 or older. Females are usually affected at an earlier age than male, because they start out with lower bone mass.

2)
Secondary osteoporosis
The symptoms of secondary osteoporosis and primary osteoporosis are similar. But it happens as a result of having certain medical conditions, examples hyperparathyroidism 甲狀旁腺功能亢進症, hyperthyroidism 甲狀腺功能亢進症, or leukemia 白血病. It may also happen as a result of taking medicines, which cause bone breakdown, such as oral or high-dose inhaled corticosteroids 皮質類固醇, too high a dose of thyroid replacement 左旋甲狀腺素鈉, or aromatase inhibitors
芳香化酶抑製劑. Secondary osteoporosis can occur at any age.

Hyperparathyroidism  
甲狀旁腺功能亢進症  

Hyperthyroidism  
甲狀腺功能亢進症  

Leukemia  
白血病  

Corticosteroid  
皮質類固醇  

Levothyroxine (thyroid replacement)  
左旋甲狀腺素鈉  

Aromatase inhibitor  
芳香化酶抑製劑  

3)
Osteogenesis imperfecta 成骨不全症, a rare form of osteoporosis, is present at birth. Osteogenesis imperfecta causes bones to break for no apparent reason.

Osteogenesis imperfecta  
成骨不全症  

4)
Idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis is rare, occurring in children between the ages of 8 and 14 or during the rapid growth times. There is no known cause. There is too little bone formation or excessive bone loss. This condition increases the risk of fractures.

Osteoporosis in Children will NOT be covered in this website.  There are two kinds of osteoporosis in children: Secondary juvenile osteoporosis 二級青少年骨質疏鬆症 and
Idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis 特發性青少年骨質疏鬆症

Juvenile osteoporosis 青少年骨質疏鬆症  
青少年骨質疏鬆症  

 

Fast Facts: An Easy-to-Read Series of Publications for the Public

Falls are serious at any age, but especially for older people who are more likely to break a bone when they fall.
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Fast Facts: An Easy-to-Read Series of Publications for the Public
November 2014
Osteoporosis is a disease in which the bones become weak and are more likely to break. People with osteoporosis most often break bones in the hip, spine, and wrist…..
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Understanding Osteoporosis
University of Illinois Extension
September 25, 2019
Read the complete document