Osteoporosis is known as the quantitative reduction of bone tissue. Its consequences are so severe that they constitute a serious health problem because of its enormous socioeconomic impact.
1. What is it?
Osteoporosis is a disease that involves a progressive decrease in bone mass. This causes the decrease bone strength and can even break from mild trauma or even spontaneously. It is a disease that is generated slowly and can develop without symptoms until you are microfractures that cause physical disability, pain and fractures.
2. Who gets this disease?
80% of people with this disease are women, ie sometimes affects more women than men. It is estimated that one in three postmenopausal women will suffer from osteoporosis.
Postmenopausal osteoporosis is that which occurs in the years following the end of regulation in women. During the ten years following menopause, women lose 50% of their bone mass. This is due to cessation of the action of circulating estrogen in protecting bone mass loss.
An estimated 200 million women worldwide suffer from osteoporosis. In Europe and the United States an estimated one third of women over age 50 will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture at some point in their lives.
In Spain, have more than three million women and 500,000 is the cause bone fractures a year. Only 300,000 women are receiving treatment.
Increased life expectancy grows the number of women reach menopause, with a consequent increase in osteoporosis will suffer.
Since menopause contributes to loss of calcium from bone, is critical to reach this age with strong bones and well mineralized.
