Health Information: Osteoporosis

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As we age, our bone mass declines faster than new bone can form. This can result in osteoporosis, or “porous bones,” a potentially crippling disease that makes bones weak and susceptible to fractures.

Osteoporosis can affect men and women of any age, but occurs mostly in women after menopause. It is called the “silent disease” because loss of bone mass has no symptoms and usually causes no pain until a bone fractures (breaks). The hip, spine and wrist bones are the ones most affected by osteoporosis. Hip fractures can result in disability and loss of mobility and independence. Spinal fractures cause a loss of height, severe back pain and curving of the shoulders and spine.

Osteoporosis is a major health issue for women. It is estimated that 50 percent of all women will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime.

Risk factors include:

Being female - More than 28 million persons in the United States–80 percent of whom are women–have or are at risk of developing osteoporosis.
Menopausal and postmenopausal women - (including early or surgically-induced menopause) are at greatest risk because of loss of estrogen which helps maintain bone strength.
Age - Your risk increases as you age.
Culture or ethnicity - People of Caucasian or Asian descent have a higher risk for osteoporosis.
Bone Structure – Small-boned and thin women are at greater risk.
Inactivity - Lack of exercise can put you at risk for osteoporosis.
Cigarettes and coffee - Smoking and drinking more than two cups of coffee a day are associated with reduced bone density.
Family history of osteoporosis - Several studies have strongly suggested that genetic factors help determine bone density.
Medications - Some medications, if taken for a long time, can contribute to bone loss.

You can take these steps to reduce your risk:

Maintain a healthy diet – Women over the age of 50 need at least 1,200 milligrams of calcium with at least 400 units of vitamin D every day. The best source of dietary calcium is from milk fortified with vitamin D. Vitamin D is an essential companion to calcium in maintaining strong bones. Eat well and take calcium supplements with vitamin D as recommended by your health care provider.
Exercise – Regular exercise is important in maintaining bone mass and increasing strength. Physical activities that help keep bones strong are weight-bearing exercises like walking and bicycling, resistance exercise such as weight training and non-weight bearing exercises such as swimming.
Don’t smoke - Women who smoke, particularly after menopause, have a significantly greater chance of bone loss.

Easy screening

Simply slip off a shoe, place your foot into a computerized machine, and in moments, the staff will provide you with a printout of the results. Keep in mind, this tool is a great way to determine your risk level; however further exams may be necessary for complete diagnosis. Call today to find out when screenings are available in your area.

Having a bone density test is a great way to:

detect osteoporosis before a fracture occurs
predict your chances of fracturing in the future
determine your rate of bone loss and/or monitor the effects of treatment, if the test is conducted every two years.

The Women’s Health Center makes these screenings available to women and men.