Health

Osteoporosis: What You Should Know

What Is Osteoporosis?

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is the loss of bone mass or bone density. As bone mass is lost, the structure of the bones becomes weak and they break more easily. Some loss of bone mass is a natural part of the aging process. For most of us, by the time we are 70 years old, our bones will have lost 1/3 of their density. Osteoporosis can occur in men as well as women. In women, however, the loss of bone mass is usually greater than in men and it begins at an earlier age (around the time of menopause or sooner if the supply of the hormone called ‘estrogen’ is decreased).

Risk factors for developing osteoporosis

The following factors can increase the chances of developing osteoporosis:

• family history of osteoporosis
• menopause
• removal of the ovaries without ongoing replacement of estrogen
• being caucasian or oriental, as opposed to black
• immobility or infrequent exercise
• smoking
• a diet low in calcium
• daily alcohol consumption
• taking corticosteroid medications (steroids)
• abnormally high levels of natural steriods in the body (Cushing’s syndrome)

Symptoms of osteoporosis

Many people are unaware of that fact that they have osteoporosis because it causes few symptoms until a broken bone (fracture) occurs. In many cases the amount of force that caused the bone to break would not normally have caused a fracture. Common fracture sites for people with osteoporosis include:

• the wrist
• the top of the thigh bone 
• the bones in the spinal column (called vertebrae). 

Gradual crumbling of the bones in the spine can also occur over time and chronic back pain and/or pain in the nerves running down the arms or legs (sciatica) can result.

Diagnosis

Osteoporosis is typically diagnosed by doing bone x-rays and a more sophisticated test, called a bone scan or bone density test. In some cases, blood tests can be helpful. On occasion, a bone biopsy may be done to confirm the dignosis.

Prevention

The most important things that can be done to prevent or minimize the development of  osteoporosis are:

• stopping smoking if you are a smoker
• decreasing excess alcohol consumption
• the replacement of estrogen hormones if required, due to menopause or the removal of your ovaries. Talk to your doctor or other qualified health care professional to determine if hormone replacement is right for you. 
• getting enough calciumin your diet or through a combination of calcium supplements and diet – Calcium is a mineral that is important in the formation of strong healthy bone tissue. Ninety-nine percent of the calcium in our bodies is in our bones. 
• getting enough Vitamin D – Your body needs Vitamin D so that you can absorb calcium from the foods that you eat. Vitamin D can be found in fortified milk, oily fish (such as salmon, tuna, herring, sardines), liver, and egg yolk. Your body can also produce Vitamin D as a result of exposing the skin to sunlight.
• exercising regularly to maintain the strength of your bones – The type of exercise that is most beneficial for preventing or treating osteoporosis, is weight-bearing exercise (e.g. walking) or moving against a resistence (e.g. weight lifting). This type of exercise should be done:
  • at least three times a week 
  • for 20 min. – 3/4 hour at a time 
  • on a regular basis