Osteoporosis is a preventable, treatable condition of weak, hollow, brittle bones that break easily. In its advanced stages, it is a painful condition affecting approximately 30 million Americans, causing fractures, typically of the hip, wrist, and spine.
Osteoporosis greatly reduces independence and the quality of life of its victims; many die from complications of osteoporosis. In the U.S., one out of every two women, and one out of eight men, develop osteoporosis.
It is never too early or too late to improve bone health. Bones are living tissues. Throughout life, old bone is removed and replaced by new bone.
Many factors affect the rate of bone addition and loss. Our bodies need calcium for proper heart, muscle and nerve function, to maintain blood pressure, and for blood clotting. If the diet doesn't provide enough calcium, we take it from our "calcium reservoir" (otherwise known as our bones).
If old bone is removed at a rate that is too fast, or if the rate of new bone replacement occurs too slowly, then gradually bones become porous and fragile. For example, 40% of the bone's density can be lost during advanced osteoporosis.
A lifelong adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D, as well as phosphorus, zinc, vitamins K and C, copper and manganese, helps bone health by increasing (as much as is genetically possible) the amount of bone formed during youth and early adulthood.
Adequate diet and hormone levels also slow down the rate of overall bone loss that occurs later in life. When recommended amounts of calcium are consumed during the bone-building years, maximum bone mass "reserves" with a consequent reduction in osteoporosis, and 50% fewer hip fractures later in life.
Many factors increase one's chance of developing osteoporosis. People at greatest risk for osteoporosis are older adults, especially women, who:
*have a family history of osteoporosis or of an adult family member breaking a bone (heredity influences peak bone mass in part because of vitamin D receptor- gene levels);*are non-Hispanic white or Asian;
*are post-menopausal women not on hormone (estrogen) replacement therapy;
*have had low calcium intake after age 35;
*have had consistently low vitamin D intake or low sunlight exposure;
*do little weight-bearing exercise;
*smoke cigarettes;
*have a small, thin frame (adult body weight less than 125#);
*have never been pregnant;
*have a history of estrogendeficiency as a result of amenorrhea, late menarche, or an early menopause, either naturally or surgically;
*have or had excessive dieting;
*have a history of taking thyroid medication, cortisone-like medications, anti-seizure drugs, or certain other medications.
To find out more about preventing your risk for osteoporosis and bone fractures, or for treatment options, ask your health care provider. Having a bone mineral density scan is a painless test for osteoporosis especially important for women age 50 and over.
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