Expert Explains Symptomless Bone Problem

A Consultant Orthopaedic and Trauma surgeon at the National Hospital, Abuja, Dr Kingsley Ekwe, says that osteoporosis, the thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone density.

It is symptomless, but can be detected if people go for regular health checks.

About half of all women over the age of 50 will have a fracture of the hip, wrist, or vertebra (bones of the spine).

Osteoporosis occurs when the body fails to form enough new bone, when too much old bone is reabsorbed by the body, or both.

Calcium and phosphate are two minerals that are essential for normal bone formation.

Throughout youth, the body uses these minerals to produce bones. If you do not get enough calcium, or if your body does not absorb enough calcium from food, bone production and bone tissues may suffer.

Ekwe told newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday that “osteoporosis is the most common type of bone disease. Researchers estimate that about one out of five American women above the age of 50 have osteoporosis.’’

“Fortunately, orthopedic surgeons can see osteoporosis bone loss in x-rays of certain body parts like the hip,’’ he said.

Ekwe explained that most cases of osteoporosis among Nigerians were discovered while treating something else.

“A person enters the hospital with a fracture only to discover that it was caused by osteoporosis,’’ he said.

Ekwe explained that the bone is a living structure that constantly breaks down and rebuilds itself, but as people get older, the factors that build the bone start to diminish.

He added that “osteoporosis is a far bigger problem in women than in men.”

“Hormonal changes contribute to taking away bone. This is much more common in post-menopausal women, and because there are a lot of hormonal changes once they stop seeing their period,’’ Ekwe explained.

“Osteoporosis is preventable. You can prevent it by taking enough bone forming minerals.

“Just calcium and vitamin D alone can reduce the speed with which one loses density in his or her bones,” he said.

Ekwe said that when the condition occurs in young people, it would be called early osteoporosis and could be found in youths using steroids or muscle releasing drugs.