Osteoporosis is a condition that affects approximately 10 million Americans aged 50 and older, and another 44 million Americans are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis. A healthy diet, exercise and medication can both help prevent bone loss due to osteoporosis and strengthen bones that are already weakened.
To help raise awareness about osteoporosis and its treatments, October 20 has been designated “World Osteoporosis Day“. We at Bikham Healthcare wanted to recognize the occasion and help promote its cause by covering everything you need to know about osteoporosis, including what it is and what causes it, how it is treated and diagnosed, and how to reduce your risk.
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a bone condition that occurs when a person’s body either makes too little bone, loses too much bone, or both. This causes the bones to become weaker and more prone to breaking. In severe cases, even an impact as minor as bumping into someone can cause bones that have been weakened by osteoporosis to break.
Osteoporosis comes from the Latin phrase for “porous bones”. Healthy bone tissue looks like a honeycomb when viewed under a microscope, but osteoporosis causes the holes and spaces in the honeycomb to become much larger. This leads to reduced bone density and, consequently, reduced bone strength.
As for what causes osteoporosis, there are numerous factors that can contribute to the condition’s development. Age is the biggest risk factor for osteoporosis, and women are much more likely to develop osteoporosis than men. Other risk factors for the condition include:
- A lifelong lack of calcium
- Lack of exercise
- Certain medications such as prednisone and cortisone
- Certain medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease
- Gastrointestinal surgery
- Family history
- Thyroid problems
How is Osteoporosis Diagnosed?
Osteoporosis is commonly referred to as a silent disease since it does not present any symptoms until a bone eventually breaks. However, there are tests that can allow physicians to detect and diagnose osteoporosis. The most reliable way to diagnose osteoporosis is to measure bone density at the hip and spine using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Since this test measures bone density at sites that are prone to fracture, it can be used to reliably predict fracture risk in addition to diagnosing osteoporosis. A peripheral DEXA, which measures bone density at the wrist and heel, is sometimes used for osteoporosis screening and has the benefit of being more portable. However, the results that it provides aren’t typically useful for predicting fracture risk or monitoring the effects of medication on the condition.
Treatments for Osteoporosis
There is no cure for osteoporosis, but the condition can be treated with a combination of medication and dietary changes. Medications commonly prescribed for osteoporosis include bisphosphonates such as Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva, and Reclast. Estrogen is also sometimes prescribed to women who have developed osteoporosis, while testosterone is sometimes prescribed to men.
Many people who are diagnosed with osteoporosis are instructed to add more calcium and vitamin D to their diets. The recommended amount of daily calcium intake via diet and/or supplements is 1,000 mg to 1,200 mg. It’s important to get at least this amount to improve bone strength, but taking much more than this amount won’t improve bone strength further and may put you at an increased risk of kidney stones, calcium buildup in the blood vessels, and constipation.
How to Reduce Your Risk of Developing
Eating a healthy diet that is rich in key vitamins and minerals and getting plenty of exercise is the best way to reduce your risk of osteoporosis. As with treating osteoporosis, getting the recommended amount of calcium and vitamin D is key to preventing osteoporosis. Dairy products are rich in calcium, but other good sources of calcium include kale, dried figs, calcium-fortified juices and bread, and sardines.
If you are a regular drinker, reducing your alcohol consumption may also help lower your risk. Tobacco consumption is thought to be a risk factor for osteoporosis as well, but the link between the two is still unclear.
Conclusion
Osteoporosis is a serious condition that affects a large number of people. As with many conditions, though, it’s also one whose risk is greatly reduced by proper diet and exercise. With October 20 being World Osteoporosis Day, we want to take this opportunity to remind all of our readers to keep their bones healthy and strong!
