Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis might sound alike, but they are two very different syndromes. The prefix “osteo-” means “bone,” and both of these health conditions affect the bones. Osteoarthritis (OA) is often called simply “arthritis,” because it is the most common form of arthritis. It occurs when the protective cartilage at the ends of the bones…
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis: The Long-Term Effects of Untreated Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that causes loss of mass of the bone tissue. A healthy individual’s bones are dense; under a microscope, a healthy bone has a honeycomb-like appearance with tiny holes. However, the bones of a person with osteoporosis has larger holes and gaps in the honeycomb-like structure because of density loss. This…
Carpal Tunnel vs. Arthritis
Do you experience frequent pain in your hands or fingers? If so, there could be a variety of factors causing the pain. Two of the most common causes of hand pain are carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis. Because both conditions can cause pain in the hands, it’s easy to get them confused and make assumptions…
10 Different Types of Bone Diseases to Watch Out For
The human body contains 206 bones. Bones are living tissue, just like all the other parts of our bodies and, as such, are constantly going through a cycle of renewal. Older bone tissue is replaced with newly formed bone tissue in a process called remodeling. Much like the remodeling of a home, our skeletal structure…
When Should You Get a Bone Density Test?
Do you or a loved one have osteoporosis? Then there is a good chance you know about bone density tests. If not, it’s unlikely that you know what this test is. That’s because bone density testing is used exclusively and is the sole diagnostic test to diagnose osteoporosis. If you don’t know or have never…