What is it?

Osteoporosis means “porous bones.”  It causes bones to become weak and brittle, often resulting in fractures.  It can occur in any of your bones, but is most common in the hip, wrist, and spine.  Though its causes are not yet fully understood, it is known that bones weaken with low levels of calcium and other minerals.

Who it affects:

Although it is often thought of as a woman’s disease, osteoporosis affects men too.  Risk factors include aging, gender (female), family history, small frame, low sex hormones such as during menopause, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and some medications.

What you need to know:

The likelihood of developing osteoporosis depends on how much bone mass you attain in your 20s and 30s and how rapidly it is lost later.  As you get older, your bones do not make new bone quickly enough to keep up with the bone loss.  The more bone you have “in the bank” the less likely you are to develop osteoporosis as you age.

It is never too late, or too early, to do something about osteoporosis.  You can take steps to keep your bones strong and healthy.  There are 3 factors that are essential for keeping your bones healthy throughout your life:  adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D, and regular exercise. 

The best way to find out about your bone strength is with a bone density test by a Dual X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) machine.  This fast and painless test uses X-rays to measure how many grams of calcium and other bone minerals are packed into a segment of bone.  The higher your bone mineral content, the denser your bones.  And the denser your bones, the stronger they generally are and the less likely they are to break.

Most people with osteoporosis need to take medication to help prevent broken bones.  There are a number of medications available to either slow or stop bone loss or rebuild bone.  Talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of bone loss medications.

Coping & Support:

Many people with osteoporosis lead very active lives.  It is important to prevent falls and fractures but that does not mean sitting on the sidelines.  When it comes to your activities, you may need to avoid some things and modify others.  You can also add new activities to your daily routine that tend to be safe for people with osteoporosis.  Always check with your doctor before beginning a new activity.

A diagnosis of osteoporosis can have a great impact on a person’s emotional and social health.  You may find that talking to other people who also have osteoporosis can be encouraging and helpful.  Ask your doctor about support groups in your area.  You may also contact the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) at 800-231-4222 for a list of local support groups. 

The NOF also has an online support community at www.inspire.com.

Sources:  www.mayoclinic.com, www.webmd.com, www.nof.org