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Health TopicsOsteoporosis: A debilitating disease that can be prevented and treated.Osteoporosis causes bones to become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. These broken bones, also known as fractures, occur typically in the hip, spine, and wrist. Any bone can be affected, but of special concern are fractures of the hip and spine. A hip fracture almost always requires hospitalization and major surgery. It can impair a person's ability to walk unassisted and may cause prolonged or permanent disability or even death. Spinal or vertebral fractures also have serious consequences, including loss of height, severe back pain, and deformity. Millions of Americans are at risk . While women are four times more likely than men to develop the disease, men also suffer from osteoporosis. Symptoms Osteoporosisis often called the "silent disease" because bone loss occurs without symptoms. People may not know that they have osteoporosis until their bones become so weak that a sudden strain, bump or fall causes a fracture or a vertebra to collapse. Collapsed vertebrae may initially be felt or seen in the form of severe back pain, loss of height, or spinal deformities such as kyphosis or stooped posture.
Risk Factors Certain people are more likely to develop osteoporosis than others. Factors that increase the likelihood of developing osteoporosis are called "risk factors." These risk factors include: • Personal history of fracture after age 50 • Current low bone mass • History of fracture in a 1° relative • Being female • Being thin and/or having a small frame • Advanced age • A family history of osteoporosis • Estrogen deficiency as a result of menopause, especially early or surgically induced • Abnormal absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea) • Anorexia nervosa • Low lifetime calcium intake • Vitamin D deficiency • Use of certain medications, such as corticosteroids and anticonvulsants • Presence of certain chronic medical conditions • Low testosterone levels in men • An inactive lifestyle • Current cigarette smoking • Excessive use of alcohol • Being Caucasian or Asian, although African Americans and Hispanic • Americans are at significant risk as well • Women can lose up to 20 percent of their bone mass in the five to seven years following menopause, making them more susceptible to osteoporosis. Prevention By about age 20, the average woman has acquired 98 percent of her skeletal mass. Building strong bones during childhood and adolescence can be the best defense against developing osteoporosis later. There are five steps, which together, can optimize bone health and help prevent osteoporosis. They are: • A balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D; • Weight-bearing exercise; • A healthy lifestyle with no smoking or excessive alcohol intake; • Talking to your healthcare professional about bone health; and • Bone density testing and medication when appropriate. see http://www.nof.org/osteoporosis/diseasefacts.htm for more information
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