Charlotte, NC
Swotantra Gautam, MD
Lumanti Manandhar, BPH
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes your bones to become weak. The bones get weak when the bone mass and mineral density reduce or when the composition and strength of bone change. In osteoporosis, the spongy bone’s pores enlarge, and the outside walls of compact bone grow thinner. The bone density decrease and the bones become more brittle, increasing the risk of fractures (broken bones).
Does Osteoporosis Run in Your Family?
Osteoporosis is the main factor for fractures in older adults and postmenopausal women. Osteoporosis is a “silent” illness that frequently goes unnoticed until a bone is broken. Women are more likely than men to develop osteoporosis, and some suffer fractures that could have been avoided if their osteoporosis had been detected and treated earlier.
Osteoporosis may not have any symptoms. You might only experience osteoporosis symptoms once you break (fracture) a bone. Any bone in the body can become fractured. However, the hip, wrist, and spine(vertebrae) are the bones that are often fractured. When you have osteoporosis, a fracture can occur during simple daily activities such as climbing stairs, lifting objects, or bending forward.
Sex: Women have a higher risk of osteoporosis. Many women have weak bones and fractures a year or two before menopause as the ovaries shrink and make fewer estrogen hormones. Women’s bones are smaller than men’s and have lower peak bone mass, putting them at a higher risk of fractures. Men are still at risk, though, particularly after 70.
Age: Bone loss occurs more quickly, and new bone development is slower as you age. Although osteoporosis can strike at any age, the likelihood of getting it rises with advancing age. Your risk of osteoporosis might increase as your bones weaken over time.
Body weight: Thin, slender women and men are more likely to develop osteoporosis since they have less bone to lose than people with thicker bones.
Changes to hormones: Low estrogen levels may increase the risk of osteoporosis. The estrogen hormone is essential for the health of the bones. It protects against bone loss in addition to its other roles. Menopause is the most common cause of low estrogen levels. Your ovaries produce very little estrogen after menopause.
Low testosterone levels in males: Osteoporosis is a concern for men with diseases that lower testosterone. However, the progressive testosterone decline with age is probably not the main factor in bone loss.
Diet: A diet lacking calcium and vitamin D can raise your risk for osteoporosis and fractures starting in childhood.
Lifestyle: Bone strength may be maintained by leading a healthy lifestyle. Low levels of physical activity and extended periods of inactivity can also speed up bone loss, among other factors. Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Additionally, they put you in poor physical shape and increase your chance of fracturing a bone due to mechanical falls.
Bone loss is the leading cause of osteoporosis. Estrogen levels significantly influence your bones’ growth and maintenance in your body. Low levels of estrogen are most frequently responsible for bone loss. Menopause is the most typical reason for decreased estrogen levels. Your ovaries produce relatively little estrogen after menopause. In addition, if you did not grow strong bones when you were young, your chance of osteoporosis will increase. If you have an eating disorder, poor eating habits, inactivity, or chronic health issues, it might cause you to have poor bone mass and risk osteoporosis.
Doctors often diagnose osteoporosis during routine screening for the disease. Your doctor may recommend a test to determine your bone mineral density (BMD) to see your bones’ strength or weakness. A standard test is a central dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) of the hip or spine. A DEXA scan is a type of x-ray of your bones. This test emits very little radiation. DEXA scans are completely safe and pose no health risks.
Your doctor will compare the results of your BMD test to the average bone density of young, healthy people and those of other people your age, gender, and race. Assume your BMD is below a certain threshold. If you are diagnosed with osteoporosis, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes to promote bone health and medications to reduce your risk of breaking a bone.
Adults should have their first DEXA scan at age 65 unless they are at high risk of fracture due to unusual factors such as long-term steroids, according to the United States Preventative Service Task Force(USPSTF).
Osteoporosis treatment aims to reduce or stop bone loss and avoid fractures. There are certain medications to treat or prevent osteoporosis. Every medicine has side effects. Menopausal hormone therapy, for example, may increase your chances of developing a blood clot, heart attack, stroke, breast cancer, or gallbladder disease. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of all medications with your doctor.
Bisphosphonates: Bone loss can be treated using bisphosphonates. They could also promote bone mass growth.
Selective modulators of the estrogen receptor (SERMs): During menopause, bone loss may be slowed down with SERMs.
Denosumab: If you are past menopause and have osteoporosis, this injectable medication may help minimize bone loss and increase bone strength.
Calcitonin: The thyroid gland produces the hormone calcitonin, which aids in controlling your body’s calcium levels and promoting bone density. The rate of bone loss is slowed down by taking calcitonin.
Hormone treatment: Menopausal hormone treatment, frequently used to treat menopausal symptoms, may also help stop bone loss.
Parathyroid hormone or teriparatide: Human parathyroid hormone is available in the injectable form of teriparatide. It helps the body create new bone more quickly than the old bone is destroyed.
Your bones and teeth contain calcium. It aids in the formation and maintenance of bones. Calcium is found naturally in daily food items like milk, cheese, yogurt, and leafy green vegetables such as broccoli, kale, and mustard greens. Calcium is also an additive nutrient in breakfast cereals or bread. If you don’t get enough calcium from your daily diet, your body will take it from your bones, weakening them.
We recommend taking a calcium supplement if your daily intake of calcium from food items is less than what you need. The amount of calcium recommended depends on the age. If you are between 9–18 years: 1300 mg per day; 19–50 years: 1000 mg per day; 51 and older: 1200 mg per day.
It is preferable to get the calcium your body requires from food. However, if you don’t get enough calcium from your diet, you should take a calcium supplement. Calcium supplements are available without a prescription at any grocery or drug store. Before taking calcium supplements, consult your doctor to determine which type is best for you and how much you should take.
