Health & Wellness: Osteoporosis: The Silent Thief

About Us

Careers

Site Map

Health Care Services

Hospitals & Facilities

Health Information

Find a Doctor

Why Choose Baptist

Osteoporosis: The Silent Thief

Daily Bread

The way of the LORD is a refuge.
Proverbs 10:29

Eighty percent affected by osteoporosis are women
When Mom was diagnosed with osteoporosis at 55, my family and I were in disbelief. Despite being an internal medicine doctor and knowing the risk factors, I had not considered that my mother could develop the disease.

According to the 2004 Surgeon General's report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis, 10 million Americans older than 50 have osteoporosis and another 34 million are at risk. Eighty percent of those affected by osteoporosis are women.

Osteoporosis occurs when cells that break down bone tissue work faster than cells that regenerate bone. Over time, this bone loss causes bones to become weak and brittle and eventually they start to break. Although no one knows all the causes of osteoporosis, there are risk factors, including:

Having a small, thin frame
Being Caucasian or Asian
Having a personal or family history of breaking a bone as an adult
Having early or surgically induced menopause
Taking high-dose thyroid medications, certain anti-seizure medications, glucocorticoids (a type of hormone), immunosuppressive medications or chemotherapy
Having a history of an eating disorder
Having a diet low in calcium
Being physically inactive
Smoking cigarettes
Drinking alcohol in excess

Fractures, often in the spine, hip and wrist, are the most frequent and serious complications of osteoporosis. Compression fractures of the spine, which can cause pain, stooped posture and lost height, can even occur without any known injury.

The best screening test for osteoporosis is dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The quick, painless and accurate procedure measures the density of bones in the spine, hip and wrist. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends that a postmenopausal woman have a bone density test if she is not taking estrogen and she:

Is older than 65
Has at least one risk factor for osteoporosis
Has a spine abnormality
Uses medications, such as prednisone, that can cause osteoporosis
Has type 1 diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, thyroid disease, or a family history of osteoporosis
Has experienced early menopause

Although there is no cure for osteoporosis, it can be treated. Medications called bisphosphonates, including alendronate (Fosamax), risedronate (Actonel) and ibandronate (Boniva) are among the most effective treatments.

Calcium, vitamin D and exercise are the best ways to prevent osteoporosis. Dairy products and green vegetables are great sources of calcium, while milk and sunlight can provide adequate daily amounts of vitamin D. Exercise can help build strong bones and slow bone loss. Other prevention tips include adding soy to your diet; quitting smoking; and decreasing alcohol, caffeine, and soda consumption.

To learn more about osteoporosis, visit the National Osteoporosis Foundation or MayoClinic.com. Medline Plus provides tips on how to include calcium in your diet. Also, please talk to your doctor about your risk for osteoporosis.

Published: February 2010
Source: Dr. Kristy Bryan, internal medicine physician, Baptist Memorial Medical Group-Collierville Internal Medicine

Top of Page