Osteopenia vs. Osteoporosis
An osteopenia vs. osteoporosis comparison can be made by first identifying each condition separately. An initial assessment can be made on their names, as they both have the prefix “osteo”, which is derived from the Greek term “osteon”. Since this term means “bone”, we can deduce that both conditions are related to the bones of the human body. To be able to understand the differences between the two, there are some other things that you must also know.
The suffixes of the terms are “penia” and “porosis”, two different terms that have different meanings. The former is related to a deficiency, while the latter is related to the presence of pores. From this, we can properly give a simple meaning to the two terms; osteopenia is a condition wherein there exists a deficiency in the bones, while osteoporosis refers to the presence of pores inside the bones that are beyond normal.
Osteopenia vs. Osteoporosis: The Statistics
According to studies, osteoporosis and osteopenia take the top 2 ranks on the most common diseases related to the skeletal system. In fact, 50% of Americans are affected by osteoporosis, and 80% of the osteoporosis patients are women. Based on this statistic, we can infer that 1 out of 2 Americans has this kind of condition – and this is why it is considered a very serious health problem.
Osteopenia is said to be a precursor to osteoporosis because a calcium deficiency is often the cause of the latter. Even other bone-related medical conditions were found to originate from osteopenia; hence, it is important that we understand these conditions fully to be able to learn how to deal with them properly. The osteopenia vs. osteoporosis evaluation can be made by conducting a thorough investigation of the bones and its characteristics.
The Connection Between Calcium And The Bones
The bones serve as the primary support system of the whole body, as it carries the weight of the organs and the muscles. It also protects the internal organs from damage caused by accidental bumps and other forces that might be directed to the organs. During the development of the fetus, the bone tissue is still in a non-mineral form, and is later mineralized into phosphorous and calcium salts. The osseous tissue (bone tissue) is comprised of these salts, but a large portion of it is made up of the calcium compounds. Bones also serve as the storage for such minerals that might be needed by the body for other bodily processes.
Once there is a calcium deficiency, the bones weaken and they tend to be less capable of serving their primary functions. Because of this, osteopenia is known to be directly related to osteoporosis because of the effects of calcium deficiency to the bones.
To further illustrate the osteopenia vs. osteoporosis comparison, below is more detailed information about these two conditions.
Osteopenia or “Low Bone Mineral Density”
Some Quick Facts
- It is not as severe as osteoporosis.
- It has no distinguishable symptoms.
- It is characterized by a bone density (T-score) between -1.0 to -2.5, which can be determined by a bone density test.
- Its severity is dependent on a person’s eating habits, nutrition, and overall lifestyle.
When a person’s bone mineral density (BMD) falls within the range indicated above, it means that the bone matter per volume has already reduced below the normal level. On an average, a person must have 1500 kilograms of bone matter per cubic meter of bone. The BMD can also be presented in T-score ratings, which should be more than -1.0.
People usually disregard the fact that the bones can possibly experience wear and tear through the years. As a result, they neglect to take the proper precautionary measures that could help them prevent bone-related ailments like osteopenia. Even if the bones only experience the typical wear and tear, a person would still be susceptible to osteopenia if he does not have a healthy lifestyle. An unhealthy diet that does not include the necessary nutrients for the bones might also be a primary cause of osteopenia, and could lead to a person acquiring this condition even if he is only in his 40s.
The good news is that there are still ways to cure osteopenia, as long as it has not yet progressed to a more severe stage. These methods include proper exercise routines and a diet that is rich in the nutrients of which the person has a deficiency (usually Calcium along with Vitamin D).
Osteoporosis or “Porous Bones”
Some Quick Facts
- It is characterized by a BMD that has dropped lower than -2.5, as evaluated by the bone density test.
- The person becomes susceptible to fractures even during simple slips or accidents.
- The causes can be attributed to other conditions (like menopause and osteopenia).
- Fracture of the bones becomes severe.
Although osteoporosis literally means “porous bones”, do not be misguided by this osteoporosis definition. The term “porous” in this sense means that the bones have developed empty spaces or “pores” due to the lack of certain minerals that should have filled those spaces. Since the bones are seemingly empty in some of its portions, it becomes more brittle than the bones of a normal person.
The whole bone structure is not only made of the bone marrow; it is also made of osteocytes (bone cells) that come from osteoblasts. The osteoblasts are responsible for synthesizing bone proteins. The functions and processes that occur within the bones of the human body occur based on a particular structure, which then malfunctions once there are deficiencies and abnormalities inside the bones.
If there is a calcium deficiency, the structure of the bones becomes loose and leads to symptoms of osteoporosis. As in the osteopenia vs. osteoporosis comparison, the link between these two conditions is actually on the “deficiency” part. Although this is so, a possible means of preventing both of these conditions is by supplying the right amount of Calcium to your system. Although milk and other dairy products are the most common sources of calcium, note that fish and other kinds of food might also contain calcium. To learn more about these foods, you can seek the assistance of nutritionists and other specialists to be able to prepare a healthier diet for you.
As opposed to osteopenia, osteoporosis treatment is more complex and requires rigorous methods. Increasing the calcium intake of the bones is one method, and prescription drugs like Raloxifene, Strontium ranelate, and Calcitonin are often given to osteoporosis patients.
How About You?
The osteopenia vs. osteoporosis comparison should be helpful in informing you about their differences, and it should also give you an idea of how to take care of your health. In this regard, it is a must that you know what your current health is in relation to the health of your bones. Getting yourself tested regularly and checking your bone density through prescribed means should be one way to start.
Although you might not know it, there is a high probability that you are already starting to develop osteopenia symtpoms and osteoporosis symptoms, or your body (along with your bones) is already starting to weaken due to old age. With this, remember to follow the recommendations of a professional and make sure that you give your health the proper attention it needs.
Having a healthy lifestyle that involves proper exercise and nutrition should be able to help you achieve your goal of becoming less prone to bone-related diseases. You might also find that as you go along with improving your lifestyle, your overall health will affected in a positive manner. Hopefully this osteopenia vs. osteoporosis evaluation will have inspired you to take care of your body wisely.