Osteoporosis
http://www.allieddiagnostics.net/specialities/osteoporosis/
Osteoporosis is often called the ‘silent disease’ because there is no direct symptom associated with bone loss.
In many cases, the first ‘symptom’ is a broken bone. Patients with osteoporosis may not know that they have the disease until their bones become so weak that a sudden strain, bump or fall causes a hip fracture or a vertebra to collapse.
Collapsed vertebra may initially be felt or seen in the form of severe back pain, loss of height, or spinal deformities such as kyphosis or severely stooped posture.
Men as well as women are affected by osteoporosis, a disease that can be detected, prevented and treated.
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a gradual thinning and weakening of the bones, which can eventually lead to fractures in the hips, vertebrae, and forearms. Throughout life, our bones are in a constant cycle of regeneration called bone remodeling. The bone remodeling cycle is a two-stage process by which bone tissue is dissolved (bone resorption) and then quickly replaced (bone formation). Normally, these two stages occur in close connection. But when resorption occurs at a faster rate than formation, bone density is lost and osteopenia develops. If this imbalance in the bone remodeling cycle continues, osteopenia will progress to osteoporosis, resulting in loss of height, deforming curvature of the spine (dowager’s hump), and back pain.
Bone density: strong bones (left), bones with low BMD (right).
Osteoporosis is often referred to as a “silent disease” because many individuals are unaware they have the condition until a painful fracture occurs.
Those at higher risk:
- Female and older than age 50
- Family history of adult fracture from osteoporosis.
- Early menopause (before age 45)
- Amenorrhea for longer than 1 year
- Diet low in calcium
- Low body weight (less than 127 lbs) or small frame
- Inadequate physical activity
- Certain diseases
- Certain medications
What are the causes of osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is caused by loss of bone substance. This occurs naturally in all individuals of a certain age, but is more marked in women following the menopause. At this time the ovaries produce less estrogen and as a result bone loss increases. In addition, women have less bone tissue than men. This is why osteoporosis is more common in women than men.
Women are at greatest risk for developing osteoporosis. After age 35, bone loss tends to begin at a rate of 0.5% to 1% per year because it is more difficult for a woman’s body to efficiently build bone mass. This rate can increase to 3% to 7% annually for the first 3 to 5 years following menopause. One-third to one-half of all post-menopausal women is affected by osteoporosis because estrogen, the hormone that protects against bone loss, is no longer produced by the body after menopause. After age 50, a woman’s risk of developing osteoporosis doubles every 5 years.
*(Statistics obtained from the National Osteoporosis Foundation.)
Do men have to worry about osteoporosis?
Yes, men of all races and ethnic groups are significantly affected by low bone mass and osteoporosis. New research from the National Osteoporosis Foundation shows that 12 million men are estimated to have low bone mass, and over 2 million are estimated to have osteoporosis. It is expected that by 2010 the prevalence of osteoporosis in men will total almost 3 million and the prevalence of low bone mass will total 14 million.
*(Statistics obtained from the National Osteoporosis Foundation.)
How can I prevent osteoporosis?
The great news is that osteoporosis is preventable in most people. The best defense against osteoporosis is to build strong bones before age 30 and to continue a healthy lifestyle to maintain bone strength throughout life. Prevention is the key because there is no cure for osteoporosis at this time, only treatment to prevent further bone demineralization.
Four steps to preventing osteoporosis:
- Balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D
- Weight-bearing exercise (walking counts!)
- A healthy lifestyle excluding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
- Bone density testing and medications when appropriate to increase the rate of bone tissue formation
How can I test for osteoporosis?
Getting a bone density scan at Allied Diagnostics is the best way to determine your bone health. This scan can identify osteoporosis, determine your risk for fractures (broken bones), and measure your response to osteoporosis treatment. The most widely recognized bone mineral density scan is called a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry or DEXA scan. It is painless – a bit like having an x-ray, but with much less exposure to radiation. It can measure bone density at your hip and spine. Bone density scans:
- Detect low bone density before a fracture occurs
- Confirm a diagnosis of osteoporosis if you already have one or more fractures
- Predict your chances of fracturing in the future
- Determine your rate of bone loss, and/or monitor the effects of treatment if the scan is conducted at intervals of a year or more
How much calcium do I need?
National nutrition surveys show that many women and adolescent girls are not getting the calcium they need to grow and maintain strong bones. Appropriate calcium intake is essential because the body cannot produce this mineral itself. Calcium is lost daily through normal shedding of the skin, nails and hair as well as through sweat, urine, and feces. In addition, calcium is necessary for the regulation of the heartbeat, conduction of nerve impulses, hormone secretion, and blood clotting. When the body does not have enough calcium for these processes, it is taken from the bones.
In general, the recommended amount of daily calcium is between 1000 mg and 1300 mg. Foods rich in calcium include milk, cheese, yogurt, greens, broccoli, dried beans and peas, sardines, canned salmon with bones and tofu as well as calcium-fortified juices.
Even though a deficiency in calcium is thought to contribute to the development of osteoporosis, it is important to realize that calcium intake is only part of the equation. All four of the above prevention tips are essential to avoid osteoporosis.
