TRANSCRIPTION

In America, 10 million people suffer from osteoporosis. They’re our grandparents, teachers, and
friends, and yet many of us don’t even know what osteoporosis is! Osteoporosis is a disease that
thins and weakens bones, making people more susceptible to fractures. To understand this condition,
it helps to look at the role bones play in a healthy body.  Bones are composed primarily of
calcium. In fact, 99 percent of the calcium that’s present in the body is found in bones.  However,
calcium is also necessary for other bodily functions, like blood vessel contractions. When sources
in the blood run low, a normal process called resorption begins. Resorption “steals” calcium from
bones to be recycled for use in other parts of the body. During resorption, scavenger cells with
saw-toothed membranes, called osteoclasts, attach to bone surfaces. There, they tunnel into bone
and regurgitate calcium into the bloodstream for use by other body parts. Resorption is
complemented by a normal process called formation. During formation, construction cells, or
osteoblasts, move into the tunnels left by osteoclasts and release strands of collagen into the
holes, effectively filling them. So how does this relate to osteoporosis? It’s simple: Bone
weakening and loss occurs when the osteoblasts cannot keep up with the osteoclasts. Put another
way, over time, the bone-breaking cells continue about their business while the bone-building cells
slow down. The result is bones that are too weak to carry their load, increasing the risk of
fractures. The most common form of the disease, primary osteoporosis, is a result of normal bodily
changes, like menopause or aging.  Type 1 primary osteoporosis occurs in women in the several years
prior to, during, and following menopause. During this time, decline of estrogen levels contribute
to type 1 osteoporosis. Type 2 primary osteoporosis results from the normal, cumulative effects of
aging. This gradual loss of bone density doesn’t usually show up until after the age of 75.  The
other form of osteoporosis, secondary osteoporosis, results from certain prescription medications
or medical conditions. Medical conditions like anorexia, alcoholism and type 1 diabetes can all
lead to the development of secondary osteoporosis.  Meanwhile, medications like corticosteroids,
thyroid hormones and chemotherapy drugs also increase the risk of this disease. Although
osteoporosis can occur from a variety of factors, its effects are the same: Weakened bones that
often break easily. If you have concerns about osteoporosis, please see your doctor.