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Osteoporosis
The
Silent Bone Thinner
Osteoporosis is a
disease that thins and weakens bones to the point where they
break easily--especially bones in the hip, spine, and wrist.
Osteoporosis is called the "silent disease" because
you may not notice any symptoms. People can lose bone over many
years but not know they have osteoporosis until a bone breaks.
About 25 million Americans have osteoporosis--80 percent are
women.
Experts do not fully
understand all the causes of osteoporosis. They do know that
when women go through menopause, levels of the female hormone
estrogen drop. Lower hormone levels can lead to bone loss and
osteoporosis. Other causes of bone loss and osteoporosis include
a diet too low in calcium and not getting enough exercise.
Who Gets Osteoporosis?
One out of two women
and one in eight men over age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related
fracture. White and Asian women are most likely to get osteoporosis.
Women who have a family history of osteoporosis, an early menopause,
or who have small body frames are at greatest risk. Men have
less risk of getting osteoporosis because they do not have the
same kinds of hormone losses as women. Osteoporosis can strike
at any age but the risk increases as you get older.
Diagnosis
Losing height or
breaking a bone may be the first sign of osteoporosis. Doctors
use several different tests to find osteoporosis. The dual
energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is the most exact way
to measure bone density in the wrist, hip, and lower spine.
Other tests the doctor may use include single photon absorptiometry,
dual energy absorptiometry, and quantitative computed
tomography. Ask your doctor about these tests if you think
you are at risk for osteoporosis.
Prevention
Osteoporosis is preventable.
A diet that is rich in calcium and vitamin D and a lifestyle
that includes regular weight-bearing exercise are the best ways
to prevent osteoporosis.
Calcium
Getting enough calcium
throughout life is important because it helps to build and keep
strong bones. Men and women age 25 to 65 should have 1,000 milligrams
(mg) of calcium every day. Women near or past menopause should
have 1,500 mg of calcium daily. Make foods that are high in
calcium part of your diet. Healthy foods that are rich in calcium
are:
- low-fat dairy
products such as cheese, yogurt, and milk
- canned fish with
bones you can eat, such as salmon and sardines
- dark-green leafy
vegetables, such as kale, collard, and broccoli
- breads made with
calcium-fortified flour.
If you don’t get
enough calcium from your food, you might think about taking
a calcium supplement. Always check with your doctor before taking
any dietary supplement.
Vitamin D
Your body uses vitamin
D to absorb calcium. Being out in the sun for even a short time
every day gives most people enough vitamin D. You can also get
this vitamin from supplements, as well as from cereal and milk
fortified with vitamin D.
Exercise
Exercise builds
bone strength and helps prevent bone loss. It also helps older
people stay active and mobile. Weight-bearing exercises, done
on a regular basis, are best for preventing osteoporosis. Walking,
jogging, and playing tennis are all good weight-bearing exercises.
Always check with your doctor before starting an exercise program.
Treatment
Treatment of osteoporosis
aims to stop bone loss and prevent falls. Falls often cause
broken bones that can mean a trip to the hospital or a long-term
disabling condition. Osteoporosis is the cause of 1.5 million
fractures each year, including more than 300,000 hip fractures.
Doctors sometimes
prescribe estrogen to replace the hormones lost during menopause
and to slow the rate of bone loss. This treatment is called
hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT also protects against
heart disease and stroke. However, experts do not know all the
risks of long-term use of HRT.
Women should discuss
benefits, risks, and possible side effects of HRT with their
doctors. Calcitonin is a naturally occurring hormone that increases
bone density in the spine and can reduce pain of fractures.
It comes in two forms--injection or nasal sprays. You can also
ask your doctor about the drug alendronate. This drug increases
bone mass in women past menopause.
The best way to prevent
osteoporosis is to be aware of the disease and to live a healthy
lifestyle. If you think you might be at risk for osteoporosis,
talk to your doctor. Ask about the bone density tests available
in your area and your prevention and treatment choices.
Resources
National Osteoporosis
Foundation
1150 17th Street, NW, Suite 602
Washington, DC 20036-2226
1-800-223-9994
National Resource
Center on Osteoporosis and Related Diseases
1-800-624-BONE (2663)
TTY (202) 223-0344
For a list of free
publications from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), contact:
NIA Information Center
P.O. Box 8057
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057
1-800-222-2225
(1-800-222-4225 TTY)
E-mail:niainfo@access.digex.net
National
Institute on Aging
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service
National Institutes of Health
1996 |
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