Osteoporosis Information

What Is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease where you have low bone density. It's more common in older people. Although it was once thought to be just a symptom of "old age," we now know that it is preventable and treatable. Most commonly, it affects women over 50, but it is also seen in men. Millions in the United States have it. It is the leading cause of bone fractures for the elderly.

Osteoporosis Prevention

Because osteoporosis is a preventable disease, it's important to understand what causes the disease and what can be done to prevent it.

The best way to think of bones and their density is to think of what's put into them. The more healthy input bones have, the longer they will last. This is why maintaining a healthy diet when you are younger actually does have an effect on quality of life when you're older. Bone density grows, usually peaking at the age of 25. At 35, the loss of density process begins. A small percentage is lost every year.

The mineral content of the bones is what's actually responsible for breaking them down, so when there's not a high mineral content to begin, chances of osteoporosis are escalated.

So what can be done to optimize the prevention of osteoporosis?

• Don’t abuse alcohol
• No smoking
• Exercise! Use your bones as much as possible, this strengthens them
• Avoid excessive dieting
• Be sure to nurture bones with calcium and vitamin D (foods in the dairy group are high in calcium, if not enough, take calcium vitamin pills)

The following are cases which can worsen chances of osteoporosis:

• Women: 80% of osteoporosis victims are women
• Body type: leaner, small bodies have a greater chance of osteoporosis
• Race: whites and Asians have the highest risk, blacks the least
• Age: older people have a higher risk
• Heredity: osteoporosis is not highly hereditary, but it can have some effect

Osteoporosis Symptoms

Osteoporosis is often not evident until a bone breaks. Back pain, loss of height, and a stooped posture are other signs. Once a bone breaks, it can often take long periods of time to recover. The risk of falling also greatly increases with osteoporosis. Because of this, falling can easily lead to breaking a hip or other bone. About 20% of women with broken hips will die in the year following the break.

Diagnosing

There are a few different forms of osteoporosis, divided into primary and secondary.

Primary

Primary osteoporosis is generally age related. Postmenopausal osteoporosis is very common, as this means ladies are not producing estrogen anymore. Estrogen is the bone-building hormone in women. Lack of it causes bone structures to weaken.

Age related loss of bone mass is also considered primary. It's normal to lose bone mass as the aging process continues; however, it is not normal to lose so much bone structure that it leads to osteoporosis.

Secondary

Secondary forms of osteoporosis occur because of a drug, operation, or other outside influence. Certain medications can induce osteoporosis, including diuretics, anticonvulsants, and certain blood thinners. Medical conditions can also lead to osteoporosis, such as Crohn's disease, type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Do You Have Osteoporosis?

The question in your mind may be, "How do I know if I have osteoporosis?"

To evaluate bone density, a test called bone densitometry can be performed to determine how much, if any, bones loss has occurred. Before this test became available, breaking a bone was really the only way of telling.

Osteoporosis Treatment

Most of the treatments for osteoporosis involve lifestyle changes to help prevent further onset of the disease. There is no real cure for osteoporosis. However, the prevention methods listed above are the best way to combat the disease.

Osteoporosis medications are available which can help prevent and treat the disease.

If osteoporosis has already set in, and maybe a bone has been broken, there are certain steps which can be taken to deal with the disease. Most of them deal with careful deliberation of physical movements.

Posture

Posture is important. Be sure to sit with your back straight and tall, at a 90 degree angle to your legs.

Sleeping

The best position to sleep in is on your back with a small pillow, which is pliable, under your head. Put another good sized, firm pillow under your knees.

However, if sleeping on your back is painful, sleep on your side with your knees bent. Use a small, pliable pillow. Keep a firm pillow between your legs and another one against your back to be sure your back stays a straight as possible.

Never sleep on your stomach.

Pushing, Pulling and Lifting

If you do any pushing, pulling, or lifting, be sure your body is positioned correctly in order to use muscles that will reduce strain and avoid broken bones.

Statistics and Interesting Facts

• 33% of women and 8% of men over the age of 50 have osteoporosis
• 50% of women will break a bone due to osteoporosis
• Billions of dollars in the US are attributed to health care costs for osteoporosis
• 30% of broken hip victims from osteoporosis require nursing home care

Read what the Mayo Clinic has to say about Osteoporosis.