STUDY OF BONE DENSITY OF STUDENTS FROM MEDICAL COLLEGE - STARA ZAGORA AND ALGORITHM FOR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF REDUCED BONE DENSITY

Abstract

Bone strength reflects a combination of two main characteristics: bone density and bone quality. Osteopenia was defined in 1992 by the World Health Organization as a condition of decreased bone mineral density, with a T-score between (-1.0) and (-2.5). For comparison in healthy individuals, these bone density values ​​should be -1.0 standard deviation. The incidence of patients with osteopenia varies within 40% of women over 50 years of age. According to statistics on osteoporosis - every third woman and every fifth man over the age of 50 are at risk of the disease. In contrast, osteoporosis is defined as a progressive systemic disease of the bone skeleton, which is characterized by decreased mass and deteriorated bone microarchitecture, leading to increased bone fragility and increased risk of fractures. There is an imbalance between the processes of bone building and bone breakdown, as a result of which the breakdown takes over. Thus the bone thins, becomes more fragile and breaks easily. Osteoporosis is the "silent epidemic of the century" and is a major threat to the world. About 13-18% of women and 3-6% of men over the age of 50 have osteoporosis. Another 37-50% of women and 28-47% of men over 50 have some degree of osteopenia, where the reduction in bone mass is not as severe as in osteoporosis. The clinical picture includes in the first place: the pain that manifests itself in the affected bones: lower thoracic, upper lumbar spine, where the first microfractures of the bone beams develop and calm down in a supine position. Osteoporous fractures are a major cause of morbidity and disability in the elderly and in some cases can lead to premature death. The aim of the present study is to measure the bone density of students from the Medical College - Stara Zagora and to determine how many of them have osteoporosis or transition to osteoporosis, as well as to recommend appropriate physical activity and diet. Due to the relatively high percentage of students with osteopenia, we recommend an exercise program and an appropriate diet to maintain the level of bone density and slow its reduction. Physical activity leads to mechanical stress (stress) by increasing the activity of osteoblasts, and bone mass increases along with muscle mass, as mechanical stress activates osteocytes, which balance the bone resorption and bone regeneration.