Understanding Osteoporosis
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a condition of decreased bone mass. This leads to fragile bones that are at an increased risk for fractures. In fact, it will take much less stress on an osteoporotic bone to cause it to fracture than it would on a healthy bone.
Common fractures which are seen in osteoporotic patients are mostly in the hip, spine, and wrist.
Women & Post-menopausal women
Men with significant smoking history
Alcohol
Smoking
Family History
Inactive Lifestyle
Thin and / or small frame
Calcium and Vitamin D Deficiency
Getting Older
Low Testosterone Levels (Men)
Corticosteroids & Antiseizure medicines
Medical conditions that weaken calcium absorption
What Causes Osteoporosis?
There are many factors that contribute to and exacerbate the onset of osteoporosis. They include
- Poor Diet
- Low Activity level
- Reduced sex hormone levels (estrogen in women; testosterone in men)
- Other medical conditions (like kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis etc.)
- Medications (such as glucocorticoids)
- Smoking or heavy alcohol consumption
Who is at risk of Osteoporosis?
Some of the most common osteoporosis risk factors include
Female Gender
Family history of osteoporosis
Being Older
History of broken bones
Inactive lifestyle
Eating a diet low in calcium and Vitamin D
Smoking
What Are the Symptoms of Osteoporosis?
There are usually no specific symptoms that alert you to the presence of osteoporosis early on in its progression.
You may feel a dull pain in your bones or muscles at the onset of the disease. But in most people, fracture is the first event which hints towards the background osteoporosis. These fractures may lead to loss of height, and you may notice yourself hunching forward. Though these finding are seen in very advanced stages of osteoporosis.
How is osteoporosis diagnosed and evaluated?
To diagnose osteoporosis and assess your risk of fracture and determine your need for treatment, your doctor will most likely order a bone density scan.
This scan is used to measure bone mineral density (BMD). It is most commonly performed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA or DEXA) or bone densitometry. The amount of x-rays absorbed by tissues and bone is measured by the DXA machine and correlates with bone mineral density.
The DXA machine converts bone density information to your T score and Z score. The T score measures the amount of bone you have in comparison to a normal population of younger people and is used to estimate your risk of developing a fracture and need for drug therapy. Your Z score measures the amount of bone you have in comparison to those in your age group. This number can help indicate whether there is a need for further medical tests.
The following procedures can be performed to determine bone fractures due to osteoporosis: Bone x-ray, CT scan of the spine, MRI of the spine
FRAX tool (Fracture Risk Assessment Tool) is IOF (International osteoporosis foundation) certified tool to assess the fracture risk in individuals above 45 year age important method of finding your risk of fracture without undergoing extensive investigations.
How Is Osteoporosis Treated?
There are multiple ways to treat osteoporosis. Non-surgical methods include
Exercise
- If you have osteoporosis or fragile bones, regular exercise can help keep your bones strong and reduce the risk of a fracture in the future.
- You may worry that being active means you’re more likely to fall and break a bone. But the opposite is true. A regular, properly designed exercise program may actually help prevent falls and fractures. That’s because exercise strengthens bones and muscles and improves balance, coordination, and flexibility. That’s key for people with osteoporosis.
- Before you start a new workout routine, check with your doctor and physical therapist. They can tell you what’s safe for your stage of osteoporosis, your fitness level, and your weight.
- Some activities recommended to build strong bones include –
- Brisk walking and jogging.
- Dancing, step aerobics and stair climbing.
- Weight trailing with free weights or machines.
- Swimming and bicycling.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy doesn’t heal the broken bones but it gives you better odds of a successful recovery.
Calcium and vitamin D
Drugs and Medications
Prescription drug are often necessary for most of the patients which can act by either reducing further bone loss or by increasing new bone formation. Drugs which prevent bone loss include Denosumab, bisphosphonates, calcitonin and hormonal therapies. On the other hand, Teriparatide acts by increasing bone formation.
