OSTEOPOROSIS

What is osteoporosis?

It's a disease that weakens bones and increases the risk of fracture, especially at the spine and hip. This means that bones are more likely to break - in some cases, with only minimal stress, such as coughing, sneezing, or turning over in bed. The hip bones can get so brittle that a fracture can occur spontaneously and cause a fall to the ground. It is frequently assumed that the fall caused the fracture but we now know it's sometimes the other way around.

Osteoporosis is the most common and serious health problem facing the post-menopausal woman. It keeps many women homebound, later even wheelchair-bound, and is one of the primary reasons an independent woman will finally succumb to nursing home admission. For an elderly woman a hip fracture can be devastating. About half will lose independence and much of the other half will have some impairment of mobility and reduced quality of life. The emotional effects can also be rather overwhelming for the patient and the family.

There are many common misconceptions about osteoporosis. It is not a disease only of the elderly. It often begins immediately after menopause and may progress silently for years until fractures occur.

Normal Backbone

Osteoporotic Backbone

Osteoporosis is not an inevitable part of aging. Some bone loss is normal as we grow older. But severe bone loss -osteoporosis- is a disease! A fracture is often the first sign of the disease and may provide the clue that leads to the diagnosis of osteoporosis. The disease may have been present for many years prior to the fracture thus, the first fracture may be followed by more as the disease continues to progress.

--- Compression Fracture

People often confuse osteoporosis with osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a disease of joints, while osteoporosis affects bones.

Osteoporosis is a major national health problem, affecting more than 25 million Americans. The female population is at the highest risk: 80% of osteoporosis cases occur in women. You can also see that men are not immune from the disease. Osteoporosis affects 5 million American men: 1 out of every 5 cases are men.

Risk factors for osteoporosis are listed on another page as are other important facts about the disease. You should be aware that low estrogen levels at other times than menopause cab have an effect on bone. Those who exercise excessively, such as young dancers and athletes, may have a very low body fat. Their bodies may not produce enough estrogen which can cause them to stop, or never start, menstruating regularly. This low estrogen level may affect bone development and these women may never achieve the peak bone mass they should. If a woman does not develop a healthy peak bone mass by age 25-30, whether due to poor nutrition, low estrogen, genetic factors, medications, or any other reason, they could be at risk for osteoporosis for the rest of their lives.

Many postmenopausal women will develop osteoporosis despite following all of the above measures-even if she has no risk factors for the disease! One of the best ways to combat the disease is to diagnose it as early as possible so that appropriate therapy can be started. A bone density test is a fast, accurate, and painless way to help doctors diagnose osteoporosis, particularly in the early stages before there are any symptoms or broken bones.

Effective therapy for osteoporosis is now available by prescription only. The three main treatments include: hormone replacement therapy, calcitonin by injection or nasal spray, and a new drug taken by mouth FOSAMAX.