It is believed that about 25% of menopausal women in the USA will exhibit some kind of fracture as a consequence of osteoporosis. The first hip fracture is associated to 2.5-fold increased risk of subsequent fracture ( Cólon-Emeric et al., 2003) with a high level of morbidity and mortality ( Cathleen et al., 2006). It exposes the fallers to a high risk of fractures ( Johnell et al., 2005 Siris et al., 2006). Nowadays, the impact of osteoporosis is compared to the impact caused by most important health problems, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer ( Froes et al., 2002). Osteoporosis has become one of the major public health problems. In 1998, cost management of osteoporosis fractures in the UK recorded 942 million pounds per year ( Szejnfeld et al., 2007). In 2002, 12 billion dollars to 18 billion dollars were spent ( Gass & Huges, 2006). Only in the USA, these fractures result in 500.000 hospitalizations, 800.000 emergency room visits, 2.6 million physician visits. Approximately 1.5 million fractures per year are attributable to this disease. Osteoporosis is considered a “silent disease” until a fracture occurs. This characteristic of being a silent disease exposes the population to even a greater risk of suffering a fracture. Indeed, during the disease progression, the bones become progressively more fragile without affecting the individuals. Osteoporosis is considered an asymptomatic disease. Osteoporosis clinical symptoms do not usually occur before a fracture occurrence. Genetic factors contribute approximately with 46% to 62% of bone mineral density (BMD) whereas other causes include lifestyle, diet and physical exercise ( Neto et al., 2002). Like any other chronic disease, the ethiology of osteoporosis is multifactorial. The great variation in bone mass peak is explained not only by hereditary factors but also by gender, race, eating habits, several hormone influence, body composition of lean mass and body fat, intercurrent diseases, chronic use of medications and physical activity ( Brandão & Vieira, 1999). The incidence of osteoporotic fractures is strictly related to the individual bone mass that depends on the speed of loss throughout life as well as the amount of bone tissue in the end of puberty and beginning of adulthood. Therefore, they are also called fragility fractures. What features the osteoporotic fractures, is when they take place with a minimum trauma, what would not cause fractures in a normal bone. If it is not early prevented, or if it is not treated, the bone mass loss is progressively increasing, in an asymptomatic fashion, without any manifestation, until a fracture occurrence. Greater losses are in the osteoporosis area. Bone mass lighter loss features osteopenia. The outcome is that the bones become more porous, losing resistance. Along the time, however, the old cells absorption increases and the bone new cells formation decreases. This permanent and constant process makes possible the bone reconstitution when fractures happen and it explains why around every ten years the human skeleton is entirely renewed. Another important feature is that they are in constant renewal process, since they are formed by cells called osteoclasts which are responsible for reabsorbing the aged areas and others, the osteoblasts, which is responsible for producing new bones. It can be seen in both genders, but it especially manifests in women after menopause due to estrogen production rate fall.įor understanding what happens, it is necessary to bear in mind that the bones are compounded of a matrix in which mineral complexes such as calcium are laid up. In most of the cases, osteoporosis is a related condition to aging.
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