Osteopenia - the basics about this condition

Osteopenia is a condition caused by your losing density to your bones. It means your bones are thinning. (Note: Some people say osteopena or ostepenia but those are not correct. Instead of osteopena or ostepenia, you want to say it this way: os-te-o-pen-i-a.)

If you have been diagnosed with it, the good news is that you do not have as much bone loss as in Osteoporosis (when you bones actually become porous). Still 'thinning bones' is a serious diagnosis and you are wise to learn as much as you can about it. If you do not stop your bone loss, you will soon find you have Osteoporosis. And your risk of multiple fractures or a dowagers hump will be high.

Although bone thinning occurs throughout your body, Dexa scans usually measure the bone density in our hips and spine. (If you may have concerns about your spines so there is a special page about Spinal Osteopenia.

Some call Osteopenia and Osteoporosis diseases. But they are not diseases like the flu, measles or pneumonia. You can not 'catch' bone loss. Instead it is often the result of how we live or some other medical condition or treatment. This web site calls excessive loss a 'condition'.

Some people blame menopause for this condition. But menopause does not cause it. True, a decrease in hormones after menopause increases bone loss but not everyone gets 'excessively thin bones' after menopause. Those with enough bone mass to start with AND who do 'all the right things' for building new bone, are often exempt from Osteopenia or Osteoporosis right after menopause.

That should be encouraging ......

Why? If it this a condition that usually develops because of life style, then it is in your power to make changes in the way you live that will stop and even reverse your bone loss.

If you learn what activities lead to bone loss, you can stop them. If you learn what helps to build new bone, you can do these things more often. Here is where YOU can influence your own future bone health. Tihs is one health condition, that it is in your power to change!

Causes of Osteopenia. Cross cultural studies show that severe bone loss is not major problems in many parts of the world. Instead it is a problem in societies where people eat “Westernized” diet, where people develop ‘bone robbing habits’ like smoking and where they do little hard physical labor.

Also there are some medical conditions that lead to bone loss. But these are not so widespread. If you want to review the list of Causes of excessive bone loss go Cause of Osteopenia Understanding Bone Building.

Like all the cells in the body, bone is constantly changing. Old bone is removed and new bone is formed. This process is done by two types of bone cells: Osteoclasts and Osteoblasts.

Osteoclasts remove old bone cells. Osteoblasts build new bone

The bones of children grow because their Osteoblasts are more active than their Osteoclasts. As they grow older the lengthening process slows but bones continue to grow in density. Of course bone building is influenced by children's diet and level of activity. It is very important that our children are eating the foods necessary for good bone growth AND that they are physically active so as to stimulate their Osteoblats.

Adult bone grows more slowly than that of children but you Osteoblasts are more active than Osteoclasts into your thirties.

Somewhere about the age of 35, the balance begins to shift. You need to develop your strongest bone mass before age 35. You will be calling on that bone mass in future years as your Osteoclasts become more active than Osteoblasts.

Osteopenia can occur when your Osteoclasts have been removing more bone than your Osteoblasts are making. When you use so much of your "total bone mass" that your bones begin to thin, you have the beginning of 'thin bones'. Symptoms of excessive bone loss If you are interestedin reading about possible symptoms, click here for Symptoms of bone loss

Your Osteopenia Treatment Plan should be designed to influence the ratio between the work of your Osteoclasts and your Osteoblasts. You want the work of the Osteoclasts [bone removing cells] to be slowed and/or the work of your Osteoblasts [bone building cells] increased. A really good treatment plan does both these tasks

Bone grows slowly and the older we are, the slower it grows. It can take a few years to reach normal bone density. That's why it is important to take an active part in creating your osteopenia treatment plan with your health care provider. (You need something you will STICK WITH for a number of years.)

It is good to educate yourself so you can raise questions that apply to your life situation. There are many things about your daily life that your health care provider does not know.

I am spending so much time talking to you about this because it research shows that the main reason why people do not improve their bone density, is that they do NOT stick with their Osteopenia treatment plan. If you help create it, you will be more likely to stick with it!

Your follow-up dexa scans will show you how well it is working. These follow up tests can be very motivating because you see the positive results - or lack there of - when you slack off.

So, learn all that you can. This web site offers lots of information. Most people who are serious about improving their bone density, book mark the site and read a few pages every at a time. They also subscribe to the free newsletter so they can keep up with the newest information and stay motivated.

Do book mark the site now. Read a few pages today. Take notes so you can raise questions or propose lifestyle changes when you meet with your health care provider.

See also: Special information about bone loss in men

You will be able to build a successful plan for strengthening your bones!