What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bones, making them more susceptible to sudden and unexpected fractures. Literally meaning "porous bone," it results in an increased loss of bone mass and strength. The disease often progresses without any symptoms or pain. Generally, it is not discovered until weakened bones cause painful fractures. Most of these are fractures of the hip, wrist and spine.
Though osteoporosis occurs in both men and women, women are four times more likely to develop the disease than men. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to prevent osteoporosis from ever occurring. Treatments can also slow the rate of bone loss if osteoporosis is present.
What causes osteoporosis?
Though we do not know the exact cause of osteoporosis, we do understand how
the disease develops. Your bones are made of living, growing tissue. An outer
shell of cortical or dense bone encases trabecular or spongy bone. The inside of
healthy bone resembles a sponge. When osteoporosis occurs, the "holes" in the
"sponge" grow larger and more numerous, weakening the internal structure of the
bone.
In addition to supporting the body and protecting vital organs,
bones store calcium and other minerals. When the body needs calcium, it breaks
down and rebuilds bone. This process, called "bone remodeling," supplies the
body with needed calcium while keeping the bones strong.
Up until about age 30, a person normally builds more bone than
he or she loses. After age 35, bone breakdown outpaces bone buildup, resulting
in a gradual loss of bone mass. In a person with osteoporosis, bone mass is lost
at an accelerated rate.
Who is most at risk for developing osteoporosis?
There are many risk factors which, when present, increase your chance of
developing osteoporosis.
- Gender--Women over the age of 50 or postmenopausal women have the
greatest risk of developing osteoporosis. Women experience rapid bone loss
during and 5 to 10 years after menopause. Menopause decreases the production
of estrogen, a hormone which protects against excessive bone loss.
- Age--Your risk for osteoporosis increases as you age.
- Race--Women of Caucasian and Asian descent are more likely to
develop osteoporosis.
- Bone structure and body weight--Petite and thin people have a
greater risk of developing osteoporosis because they have less bone to lose
than people with more body weight and larger frames.
- Family history--If your parents or grandparents have had any signs
of osteoporosis, such as a fractured hip after a minor fall, you may have a
greater risk of developing the disease.
- Nutrition--You are more likely to develop osteoporosis if your body
lacks sufficient amounts of calcium and vitamin D.
- Lifestyle--People who lead sedentary lifestyles have a higher risk
of osteoporosis.
- Medications--Certain medications result in side effects that may
damage bone and lead to osteoporosis.
- Smoking--Increases risk
How can I prevent osteoporosis?
Your diet and lifestyle are two important risk factors you can control to
prevent osteoporosis. Replacing lost estrogen through hormone therapy also
provides a strong defense against osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
- Diet--To maintain strong, healthy bones, a diet rich in calcium is
needed throughout your life. Your need for calcium becomes even greater as
you age.
The U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance (USRDA) for calcium
is 1,000 milligrams per day. Postmenopausal women who are not taking
estrogen should get 1,500 milligrams per day. One cup of skim or 1
percent fat milk contains 300 milligrams of calcium. Besides dairy
products, other good sources of calcium are salmon with bones, sardines,
kale, broccoli, calcium-fortified juices and breads, dried figs and
calcium supplements. When taking calcium supplements, remember that the
body can only absorb 500 mg of calcium at a time. So you should take
your calcium supplements in divided doses since anything more than 500
mg will not be absorbed.
Vitamin D is also important because it enables the body
to absorb calcium. The recommended daily allowance of vitamin D is 1000
to 2,000 I.U. (international units) in the form of vitamin D3. Vitamin D
can also be obtained by getting 5 to 15 minutes of sunlight a few times
a week or by consuming fortified milk.
- Lifestyle--Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can reduce the degree of
bone loss. Establish a regular exercise program and avoid excessive use of
alcohol and tobacco. Exercises that make your muscles work against gravity
(such walking, jogging, aerobics and weight lifting) are best for
strengthening bones.
How can I know if I have osteoporosis?
Painless and accurate medical tests can provide you with information about
your bone health before problems begin. Bone Mineral Density tests (BMD tests),
or bone measurements, also known as Dual X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scan, are
x-rays that use very small amounts of radiation to determine the bone density of
the spine, hip, wrist or heel. Your physician can order these tests for you.
How is osteoporosis treated?
Treatments for established osteoporosis include:
- Estrogen therapy
- Medications-- Fosamax® (aledronate sodium), Actonel®
(risedronate), Boniva® (ibandronate), Reclast® (zoledronic
acid), Evista® (raloxifene), Forteo® (teriparatide),
and Miacalcin® or Fortical® (nasal spray calcitonin)
- Calcium and vitamin D supplements
- Weight-bearing exercise
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 3/18/2009…#4443
