Osteoporosis – A Silent Killer

Women especially are more vulnerable to osteoporosis as we age, but men can develop this also. It is not a sex specific disease. This disease literally sucks the calcium out of your bones leaving them very brittle, porous and sponge like in appearance. Because of this, the bones become very fragile and break easily. Normal bone is composed of protein, collagen, and calcium. Bones that are affected by osteoporosis can fracture with only a minor fall or injury that normally would not cause a bone fracture. The fracture can be either in the form of cracking (as in a hip fracture), or collapsing (as in a compression fracture of the vertebrae of the spine).

This is a silent disease. You can have it for years and not have any symptoms. Therefore, you may not be aware you have osteoporosis until you suffer a painful fracture because of poor bone quality. You can suffer some long term problems if you have a fracture and have osteoporosis.

Almost 30% of patients who suffer from a hip fracture and have osteoporosis will require long term nursing home care. Elderly patients can develop pneumonia and blood clots in leg veins that can travel to the lungs. Approximately 20% of women with hip fractures will die in subsequent years as an indirect result of the fracture.

Why should we worry about osteoporosis if it has no symptoms? In the United States, 44 million people have low bone density. This accounts for about 55% of the US population 50 years-old and older.

The American Medical Association list these statistics:

• One in two white women will experience a bone fracture due to osteoporosis in her lifetime.
• Twenty percent of those who experience a hip fracture will die in a year following the fracture.

Some of the risk factors for developing osteoporosis:

• Female gender
• Caucasian or Asian race
• Family history
• Personal history of fracture as an adult
• Cigarette smoking
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Lack of exercise
• Diet low in calcium
• Low estrogen level
  
  

Other things that may play a factor in your risk include things like your mobility, thyroid condition, Vitamin D deficiency and certain types of medications.

The National Osteoporosis Foundation, the American Medical Association and other major medical organizations, recommend a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan (DXA) to diagnosis osteoporosis. A routine X-ray can show osteoporosis, but unfortunately by the time a normal X-ray can detect osteoporosis at least 30% of the bone has already been lost.

If you are a postmenopausal woman below age 65, with a risk factors you should have a bone density test. All women age 65 and older should be tested as well.

Although prevention is the goal, treatment measures may be needed. You may be asked by your doctor to exercise more, quit smoking, and use alcohol only in moderation. These lifestyle changes can assist in treating and preventing osteoporosis.

Your doctor may also place you on medication that stops bone loss and increases bone strength, or medication that increases bone formation.

Be sure to discuss all information and lifestyle changes completely with your doctor.