The bone system diseases best known and treated by medicine are osteoporosis, Paget's disease, acromegaly, achondroplasia, osteoarthritis, fibrous dysplasia, among others.
The skeletal system is the set of bones, cartilage and joints that make up the skeleton, and allow the body to support itself, protect organs and move. This can be internal, as in mammals, or external, as in the case of arthropods..
Bones are made up of a type of cell called osteocytes, which are joined together by joints, and between them are cartilage that prevent friction between one bone and another..
The human skeleton is made up of a total of 206 bones, which have been growing and developing since childhood. Calcium is the fortifying element of bones and it is obtained from foods such as milk and derivatives, eggs and some vegetables.
The human body stores calcium deposits during growth, but as we age, it is necessary to supply calcium to maintain healthy bones.
This deficiency, as well as the lack of adequate exercise, can give rise to different diseases that affect the bone system. These diseases particularly affect the mobility of the body, and therefore the quality of life of the patient. Here are some of them.
It is a disease that affects the density of the bones, deteriorating their micro architecture, making them more fragile and prone to fracture with any blow or effort..
It is caused by the decrease in the tissue that forms the bone, or also by the loss of the mineral salts that constitute it. The patient does not know that he suffers it until a fracture occurs and is diagnosed. The density of the bones can be measured by the bone densitometry procedure..
The causes of this disease are, in women, the decrease in the production of estrogens, as well as progesterone, when entering menopause.
Other triggers can be poor nutrition, lack of calcium and vitamin D in the diet, sedentary life, use of corticosteroid drugs, tobacco and alcohol use. On the contrary, factors that help in prevention are: practice of physical exercises and consumption of foods rich in calcium.
It is an asymptomatic disease that consists of the accelerated growth of the bone regeneration process. The bones are constantly regenerating, but when suffering from this pathology, they do it faster than normal..
As a consequence, regenerated bone is weaker and less rigid, making it prone to fracture or bending. Its causes are not fully known and it is speculated that they affect genetic factors, as well as the action of some type of virus.
This disease can affect a specific area or the entire skeleton. Depending on the affected area, it can present various symptoms, namely:
It is a type of arthritis that affects the cartilage, which is responsible for preventing friction between the bones of the joints, covering them. As a consequence, there is a lot of pain in them.
Additionally, rubbing can cause bone fragmentation, the bits of which can become embedded in the cartilage, thus increasing pain..
Joints swell and bone spurs can develop, resulting in deformities. The person's movement is limited. Unlike arthritis, osteoarthritis only affects the joints and not other organs of the body.
Among the causes of this disease are being overweight, aging, joint injuries, defects in the joint in its formation or genetic and wear caused by sport or some physical activity.
It is a fairly rare genetic disease that consists of an increase in bone density, making bones fragile and preventing their normal growth..
It is a genetic disorder that causes weak bones, making them more brittle and prone to breaking, sometimes for no apparent reason. This also causes very weak muscles, brittle teeth and hair loss..
It originates because the effect on the genes prevents the production of collagen, a protein that hardens the bones.
It is a disease caused by an increase in the secretion of growth hormone, coming from the pituitary gland.
As a result, the limbs become larger, and in some cases the internal organs, which can lead to death. Unlike gigantism, which produces exaggerated growth at puberty, this disease occurs in adults.
It is a genetic disorder of DNA that produces dwarfism. The person grows in his spine, but suffers a shortening of the limbs, so his body is no longer harmonious.
It is the disorder produced by a cyst within the spinal cord, which destroys its center by expanding, causing pain, weakness and stiffness in the back and extremities; headaches, insensitivity to temperature, or a combination of all of the above.
It is the lateral deviation of the spine that by itself does not cause symptoms, but over time, causes wear on the vertebrae and consequently, pain. It is one of the most common spinal diseases.
It is the deviation of the spine that produces a hump.
It is a disease that affects the bones of the knees of children. The femoral bone deteriorates, due to lack of blood supply, causing pain and inability to walk.
It is an excessive growth and swelling of the bones due to abnormal cell growth. There are different types of dysplasia depending on the area they affect. The most common are skull, pelvis, shins, thighs and arms..
It is a bacterial infection that directly affects the bones. It must be treated with antibiotics and surgery to remove the affected parts..
A bunion is the enlargement of the joint of the big toe, produced by the displacement of the joint or the tissue that forms it..
As a consequence, a painful bulge is created, increased because a lot of force is applied there when walking. The joint stiffens, making walking or wearing shoes difficult or impossible. They appear after years of efforts in the area and are caused by defects in walking, heredity or other reasons..
Cancer in the bones is not common. Depending on the type of cancer, it can affect both children and adults, and manifests in the extremities. Other types of cancer that have metastasized to the bones are not considered bone cancer.
It is the condition caused by a delay in the deposit of calcium phosphate in the growing bones, thus allowing deformations in the skeleton, especially bow legs in the case of children..
In adults it is known as osteomalacia, and since the bones are no longer growing, deformities do not occur, but weakening does occur, which leads to bone fractures, especially those that support more weight such as the pelvis or of the legs.
Even when the bone is not fractured, those with these diseases can suffer from muscle pain and weakness..
An adequate diet that includes vitamin D can prevent this disease, which can be caused by hereditary factors, as well as low sun exposure (mostly in countries close to the polar circle), since the fixation of vitamin D depends on sun exposure.
It is a condition caused by the stimulation of the metabolism of the bones, produced by an increase in hormones in the thyroid and a delay in the mineralization of the bones. This is a consequence of some chronic kidney disease. All this leads to defects in bone formation.
The bones in the mouth comprise spongy bones and dense bones, and, like the rest of the body, are subject to the process of formation and resorption throughout life.
When the degeneration process exceeds the formation process, it can cause a loss in the support of the teeth, or a decrease in space in those places where teeth have been lost..
To have better health and avoid or prevent diseases of the skeletal system, it is convenient to have a good diet.
The diet should contain sufficient amounts of calcium and vitamin D. For good absorption of vitamin D, moderate exposure to the sun is necessary, preferably in the morning or in the afternoon, to avoid damage to the skin..
The diet should be rich in protein, but vegetable, since the excess of animal protein could accelerate cases of osteoporosis.
Foods that are not recommended are those that demineralize or remove minerals from the bones. Among them we have salty foods, pre-cooked, fried, with white sugar, tobacco and alcohol. Vegetables with oxalate should be eaten separately from foods rich in calcium, as well as those that contain fiber.
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