Osteoporosis
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Wat is osteoporose?
Bij osteoporose worden botten minder sterk doordat de botdichtheid en de kwaliteit ervan afnemen. In onze botten wordt voortdurend nieuw botweefsel aangemaakt en oud botweefsel afgebroken. Tijdens de groei is er meer aanmaak van botweefsel, terwijl er op oudere leeftijd meer afbraak is. Daardoor worden de botten brozer en kunnen gemakkelijker breken. Ruggenwervels kunnen hierdoor inzakken.
What is osteoporosis?
In osteoporosis, bones become less strong because the amount of bone (density) and its quality decrease. In our bones, new bone tissue is constantly being created and old bone tissue is being broken down. During growth there is more production of bone tissue, in older age there is more breakdown. As a result, bones become more brittle and can break more easily. Spinal vertebrae can collapse as a result.
Who suffers from osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is more common in women than men because accelerated bone loss occurs during menopause. Men can also develop osteoporosis and usually at a later age than women. Insufficient exercise, not enough calcium in the diet, vitamin D deficiency, too much alcohol and smoking all contribute to the development of osteoporosis.
Some diseases create a higher risk for developing osteoporosis: rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, COPD, chronic kidney disease and chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Long-term use of certain drugs such as cortisone can also cause this.
Diagnosis
Early diagnosis, before a fracture has occurred, is only possible through a bone density measurement. This involves using X-rays to measure the amount of calcium in your bone.
Treatment
Treatment may include intake of calcium and vitamin D, adequate exercise and/or avoidance of alcohol and smoking.
Diagnose
Een vroege diagnose, voor er een breuk is opgetreden, is alleen mogelijk via een meting van de botdichtheid. Hierbij wordt met behulp van röntgenstralen de hoeveelheid calcium in je bot gemeten.
Behandeling
De behandeling kan bestaan uit inname van calcium en vitamine D, voldoende lichaamsbeweging en/of het vermijden van alcohol en roken.
Departments
For more information about the condition, please contact the endocrinologists.
For treatment of a fracture due to osteoporosis, you can visit the department of orthopaedics.