Osteoporosis I

This topic will introduce you to the basic concepts about bone and provide a definition of osteoporosis. It will also look at conventional treatments for osteoporosis.

Bone is a living organ which is constantly being built up and broken down. This is called bone turnover. Good bone health requires a balance between the cells that build (osteoblasts) and the cells that breakdown (osteoclasts). When there is a mismatch between the two and there is more bone breakdown than bone building, the result is net bone loss.

If you have osteoporosis you have an increased risk of fractures in the spine and extremities. However, there is a lot you can do to reduce this risk...