Last I wrote about how our bone development takes place and how does bone resorption or calcium loss from bone occur. Today I will explain exact physiology of the Silent Killer due to harm almost all of us regardless of gender, age or community bias.
So we know that the process will take place post 35 years of age when the bone turnover begins i.e. bone - calcium deposition and bone - calcium resorption. We also know that the determining factor in whether the calcium deposition to calcium resorption is high or low will give the final bone density and structure stability. In a normal metabolic state the body will balance this ration of bone turnover; its the imbalance that kicks in the osteoporotic state. How is this imbalance in metablism caused? Lets find out.
For the bone to lose its hard earned calcium over 35 years of its life it better get a valid reason to give it away. Our body is much smarter and better in taking calculated risks than the brightest of us are. If the blood calcium level or serum calcium level falls to an alarming low level the body sends out through the brain a hormonal signal to the 'Parathyroid Gland' situated next to the thyroid gland to release 'Parathyroid Hormone' and the same signal is directed towards the skin to release 1,25 - D Cholecalciferol or Vitamin D after being activated by solar radiation. Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) will act upon the bone calcium deposition and stimulate the bone calcium resorption to release more calcium in the calcium deffecient blood, similarly it will also have effect to stop calcium loss through urine and facilitate calcium reuptake by the kidney. Vit D will have direct impact on calcium absorption from the instestinal tract into the blood to increase the calcium levels in the body. This is actually homeostasis that the body performs when in sudden imbalance or persitent imbalance. If this was just a one time situation the bone turnover wouldn't change majorly but when this occurance becomes habitual to the body the bones face a constant high resorption and low deposition rate leading to very low bone mineral density. The lower the bone mineral density the more porous the bones become as we last learned about the meshwork of protein being left behind making it soft.
Obvious question to the mind is how does this affect the rest of the metabolism? Well, to balance one mineral other minerals are also respectively adjusted or balanced. If there is an imbalance in calcium in the body there is going to be an imbalance in phosphorous too and so is flourine and the other minerals. Calcium is utmost essential for the normal beating of the cardiac muscle which can also go into harm if not balanced. There are other factors that take precedence like oxalic acid which form crystals with calcium. If calcium is low in the body as compared to oxalic acid it can be even reduced by formation of calcium oxalate crystals which may cause kidney stones or even joint dysfunction. Hormonal imbalance due to sudden PTH release or even a constant one changes the body's hormonal metabolism.
Once the bones are porous due to constant resorption, major joint fractures or long bone fractures are most likely to disable the person onto a bed forever causing lifestyle changing occurance. Imobility is the worst enemy of anybody and because of fraility there is no other option. There is no external infection, no cancer like disease, no major organ disorder, or major surgery to make you imobile and yet there is one and only one mineral imbalance or hormonal imbalance that has lead people like you and me to lay in their bed awaiting bone recovery. But unlike other debilatating disorders bone density can go through reversible effects, so you can work towards recovering back your bone mineral density by sheer hardwork.
There is a lot more to discover about this disorder so watch out for the next post, untill then...
Wish you wellness,
Neha Wasnik
R.D
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