Osteomalacia or Osteoporosis

Osteomalacia or Osteoporosis Both of these are health conditions involving bone.

In Osteoporosis bone has become too porous - there are wide space or 'holes' in the inner trabecular bone. Since this bone is crucial to overall bone strength, Osteoporosis of bones can lead the bone to fracture or when in the spine, vertebrae can collapse. This can be painful and it leads to lessened height.in several aspects.

Osteoporosis is a disease in which there is a decrease bone density; meaning that for a particular volume of bone there is too little calcium an d phosphorous in bones due to which the bones becomes fragile and porous.

In Osteomalacia your bone density may be normal, but your bones become soft or weak because of a loss of important minerals such as calcium and phosphorous.

Osteomalacia is caused by a defect in the mineralization of osteoid, a protein framework.

The cause of Osteomaliacia is usually insufficient Vitamin D which prevents the normal mineralization of calcium and phosphorous to build strong bones. The reason for insufficient Vitamin D maybe a lack of dietary intake .It can also be caused by certain surgeries such as the removal of part or all of your stomach or surgery that by passes your small intestines.

It can also be caused by celiac disease (sensitivity to gluten) since a damaged intestinal lining does not absorb vitamin D very well. Finally, kidney or liver disorders and some drugs - especially those used to treat seizures can cause this condition.

Osteoporosis can be caused by a number of different things. Its causes are the same as those for Osteopenia (milder form of bone loss that usually precedes Osteoporosis.) Click here to read about  the Causes of Osteopenia and Osteoporosis

Common Symptoms of Osteomalacia or Osteoporosis.

Osteomalacia usually reveals itself in aches and pain in lumbar region of the spine (lower back) or in the thighs. As the condition progresses these aches may spread to arms and ribs. Osteoporosis, on the other hand, usually has no symptoms - until there is a bone fracture. It is this reason why anyone over 30 who fractures a bone AND as all persons as they age, should have a dexa scan to asses their bone density.

Treatments of Osteomalacia and Osteoporosis

The treatments of these two conditions differ. Naturally Osteomalacia requires Vitamin D supplementation and lab tests shows that your blood levels of calcium or phosphorus are low, you be given supplements of these also. If your condition is cause by some underlying disease or weakness, treatment of that condition needs to be addressed.

Treatments for Osteoporosis are numerous. Most physicians will prescribe Pharmaceutical drugs. But there are a whole host of natural treatments to reverse bone loss. See Natural Treatments for Osteopenia and Osteoporosis

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