Osteoarthritis  'Osteo' means bone, 'arthron' means joint & 'itis' means inflammation i.e. inflammation of joint of bones Osteoporosis It is a common type of metabolic bone disease in which bones become thinner and weaker as a part of aging. People with osteoporosis have bones that are weak and that can easily break. "Osteo" refers to bone, and "porous" means full of holes.
	So"Osteoporosis" means bones full of holes. Due to this, the bones become fragile and more likely to break. Bone loss occurs without symptoms. People can lose bone mass over many years but not know the problem. Early detection and intervention are important in osteoporosis to slow the disease. Osteoporosis can be diagnosed with procedures like a complete medical and family history, bone density test, blood tests, spine X-ray and spine CT. Fractures occur typically in the hip, spine and wrist Although any bone can be affected, but of special concern are fractures of the hip and spine. A hip fracture almost always requires major surgery. It can render immobility to the affected person and may cause prolonged or permanent disability or even death. Spinal or vertebral fractures also pose serious consequences, including loss of height, severe back pain, and deformity.
	Osteoporosis can strike at any age. It is possible to have osteoporosis even as a baby. Eighty percent of those affected by osteoporosis are women. Twenty percent of those affected by osteoporosis are men. One in two women and one in four men over age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their remaining lifetime. Symptoms It's often called the "silent thief" because it steals your bone mass, but you can't see or feel it happening. Osteoporosis is often called the "silent disease" because bone loss occurs without symptoms. People may not know that they have osteoporosis until their bones become so weak that a sudden strain, bump or fall causes a fracture or a vertebra to collapse. Collapsed vertebrae may initially be felt or seen in the form of severe back pain, loss of height, or spinal deformities such as kyphosis or stooped posture. However, some symptoms occur late in the disease. Some of the symptoms are loss of height - patients may loose as much as 6 inches in height, cramps in the legs at night, bone pain and tenderness, neck pain, persistent pain in the spine or muscles of the lower back, abdominal pain, tooth loss, rib pain, broken bones, spinal deformities become evident like stooped posture, an outward curve at the top of the spine as a result of developing a vertebral collapse on the back, fatigue, periodontal disease and brittle fingernails. These symptoms also may indicate other health problems like arthritis or tendonitis. Early detection and intervention are important in osteoporosis to slow the disease. Osteoporosis can be diagnosed with procedures like a complete medical and family history, bone density test, blood tests, spine X-ray and spine CT. Risk Factors Factors that increase the likelihood of developing osteoporosis are called "risk factors." These risk factors include:
		Caucasian or Asian ancestry (people of African descent are at lower risk but still            can have the disease)
		Female gender
		Family history of osteoporosis
		Early menopause
		Small body (skeletal) frame
		Advanced age
	Controllable risk factors for osteoporosis are:
		Menopause without estrogen replacement therapy
		Low dietary intake of calcium
		Smoking
		Lack of exercise
		Alcohol abuse
		Excessive doses of thyroid hormone
	Risk factors related to other medical conditions are:
		Prolonged use of corticosteroids
		Use of anticonvulsants
		Having a diagnosed case of Cushing's disease, hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism,  hypogonadism (in men), malabsorption, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or chronic  liver or kidney
	To lower your risk for osteoporosis, adopt healthy habits, such as taking in enough calcium (ideally as part of your diet) and vitamin D, maintaining a healthy diet, and taking part in regular, weight-bearing exercise. If you have not exercised for a long time or have a health condition that affects your ability to exercise, consult your doctor first for an appropriate exercise regimen. And if you smoke, quit.
	Detection Specialized tests called bone density tests can measure bone density in various sites of the body. A bone density test can: Specialized tests called bone density tests can measure bone density in various sites of the body. A bone density test can:
		Detect osteoporosis before a fracture occurs.
		Predict your chances of fracturing in the future.
	BMD test can determine your rate of bone loss and/or monitor the effects of treatment Routine X-rays can detect osteoporotic bones only when at least 30% of their bone mass has been lost. At this stage of the disease, the affected bones have a much lighter and thinner appearance than normal bones. An earlier and more accurate assessment of bone loss is accomplished through the use of bone densitometry. Bone densitometers measure the absorption of radiation by the skeleton (skeletal calcium) in order to determine bone mass. Measurements of bone mass are generally considered the most valid estimator of an individual’s fracture risk. Bone density can be measured in several different locations, with different techniques used for different sites. The most preferred techniques are dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), ultrasound detection and quantitated computer tomography (QCT). All these techniques have more precision and can assess bone mass at any site. These techniques use x-ray sources to image bones, as does radiographic absorptiometry (RA), primarily used to measure the small bones of the hand. Of all the techniques, only QCT has the ability to separate cortical from trabecular bone by providing a three-dimensional image; however, it is more difficult to perform and delivers much more radiation (100 times that of DXA) than the other methods of measurement. No agreement yet exists on which method is the most effective for diagnosing individual patients and monitoring the progress of their disease. In fact, even the value of densitometry itself in assessing an individual’s risk of osteoporosis has been questioned. Many physicians support the use of densitometry in screening high-risk patients to identify those with osteopenia or osteoporosis. Others, however, question the cost effectiveness of large-scale screening, arguing that no studies exist to date showing that the use of bone densitometry in high-risk groups actually results in a reduced incidence of fractures. The usefulness of bone densitometry in research on osteopenia and osteoporosis and for individual clinical decision making, i.e., measuring therapeutic response through interval monitoring, is generally more accepted. A definitive diagnosis of osteoporosis is made only after performing a diagnostic test and meeting certain specifications. The World Health Organization (WHO) developed a method, known as the T score, by which one’s bone density is measured. An individual’s T score is determined by comparing theirs to that of a healthy thirty-year-old. A standard deviation of -1.0 indicates that the individual’s bone mass is 10% less than normal. The following table displays the standard deviations for bone density measurements (5):
			Standard Deviation Diagnostic Category 0 to –1.0 Normal -1.1 to –2.5 Osteopenia More than –2.5 Osteoporosis

Prevention

By about age 20, the average woman has acquired 98 percent of her skeletal mass. Building strong
bones during childhood and adolescence can be the best defense against developing osteoporosis
later. There are four steps, which together, can optimize bone health and help prevent osteoporosis.
They are:

• A balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D;
• Weight-bearing exercise;
• A healthy lifestyle with no smoking or excessive alcohol intake; and
• Bone density testing and medication when appropriate