BONE DISORDERS

CALCIUM AND VITAMIN-D DISORDERS


Low levels of Vitamin D are found to be very common in the general population and more so ever in children. It is very important vitamin in children as it can affect the bone health with mild being aches and pains and severe being bony deformities. It also causes many non specific symptoms such as tiredness, muscle cramps and headaches.

OSTEOPOROSIS AND METABOLIC BONE DISEASE CLINIC


Osteoporosis is very common among the postmenopausal women and those taking steroidal medications for arthritis, obstructive airway disease and other medical conditions. Osteoporosis when unrecognized and left untreated may lead to debilitating consequences including vertebral and hip fractures . The morbidity and mortality due to these complications almost equal that of cardiovascular diseases.


Also, vitamin D deficiency and osteomalacia are very common in India and many other parts of the world.


Metabolic bone diseases may present with


  • Low backache
  • Unexplained weakness
  • Body aches
  • Fractures due to trivial trauma
  • Recurrent kidney stones
  • Bony swellings


A comprehensive evaluation and treatment for metabolic bone diseases is available at our hospital. We routinely do Vitamin D, parathyroid hormone assays , NTx and other parameters pertaining to bone mineral metabolism , which help in detection of metabolic bone diseases. We have also evaluated and successfully cured many persons with parathyroid hormone excess by medical and surgical treatments. Ready availability of the latest BONE DENSITOMETRY service helps us in early detection and successful treatment of deforming conditions like Osteoporosis, Metabolic Bone Disease and Parathyroid Disorders.



CALCIUM AND PARATHYROID DISORDERS


Parathyroid glands are small pea-sized glands situated in the neck, just behind the thyroid gland and they control the level of calcium in the blood. It secretes the parathyroid hormone which exerts its effects on the bones, kidneys and the gut to tightly control calcium levels.


Sometimes the parathyroid glands can make too much parathyroid hormone (hyperparathyroidism).In this case, patients develop a level of calcium that is too high which in turn can make them feel generally unwell and lead to osteoporosis and kidney stones.


Occasionally, the parathyroid glands do not produce enough parathyroid hormone leading to low calcium levels in the body (hypocalcaemia).This condition is called hypoparathyroidism.



OSTEOPOROSIS, VITAMIN-D AND BONE HEALTH



Osteoporosis is a bone disorder caused due to weakening of the bone resulting in altered bone structure and increased risk of fracture. Osteoporosis can result from an imbalance in one or several different hormones.


Vitamin D is another important hormone which helps maintain bone health. It is produced in the skin on exposure to sunlight and it gets activated in the kidneys. It plays a very vital role in regulating blood calcium levels and keep bones strong. Now the role of vitamin D as a regulator of other functions throughout the body has emerged, it has been suggested that a lack of vitamin D is linked to an inability to fight infections effectively; the development of diabetes; certain cancers; multiple sclerosis; depression; heart disease; high blood pressure; and stroke, although the direct relevance and mechanisms underlying these responses remain unknown.