Danger level: Medium

What is it?

Osteoporosis (the word is in Greek: “Osteo” means bone, and “porosis” means holes) is a condition in which bones become thin and weakened, which makes them susceptible to fractures.

Who gets it?

About 10 million people in the US, and 200 million people worldwide have osteoporosis. One in 3 women and one in 5 men over the age of 50 will experience fractures as a result of osteoporosis.

White people (especially of northern European origin) as well as Asians are at an increased risk. The condition is also more common in women – 4 times more common.

In terms of age, osteoporosis occurs in women after menopause, meaning it’s most common in women in the ages 50-70. Another form of osteoporosis, called senile osteoporosis, isn’t related to menopause and can happen to both men and women, usually after the age of 70.

On top of all of those, there are a few risk factors, which can put you at risk of developing osteoporosis:

1. A family history – Osteoporosis runs in families. If you have a parent or sibling with osteoporosis you are at greater risk of developing it yourself.
2. Your build – Men and women who are very thin or have small body frames are at a greater risk (since they have less bone to begin with).
3. Smoking – Osteoporosis is just one of the many perks you get when you smoke.
4. Excessive drinking – Excessive drinking of alcohol interferes with the body’s ability to build bone.
5. A sedentary lifestyle – Exercise accelerates the process of bone building. Not doing it raises your risk for osteoporosis.

What causes it?

Our bones aren’t stagnant. A process called bone remodeling is always at work, in which new bone (made of minerals like calcium) is formed and old bone is broken down. Early in life (up until our mid 30s or so) this process is even – the amount of bone that is breaking down equals the amount of new bone being formed. At that time, though, the breakdown starts to outpace the building process. This causes the bones to become thinner.

During that time, though, this process isn’t significant.

In women, around age 50-60, menopause occurs. This is the time when the body stops producing the hormone estrogen. As its levels drop, bone loss increases dramatically. This doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen to men, but the process in them is slower, so the disease happens at an older age.

Our bones get thinner and are at a risk of breaking when we reach a certain age. Photo by BillRhodesPhoto.

How does it feel?

In the early stages of the disease usually there are no symptoms, but when fractures start to occur, the symptoms begin. Most of the fractures in osteoporosis occur in the spine, hip or wrist. Symptoms which appear when the fractures occur include:

1. Back pain – Due to fractures in the vertebra.
2. Loss of height, and an accompanying stooped posture
3. The fractures themselves – Which are disabling.

It’s important to note that since the bones are so brittle in this condition, you don’t need a lot to happen in order to have a fracture. Even mild stresses like bending over, lifting a vacuum cleaner or coughing can cause a fracture.

This video explains it:

How is it discovered?

A special x-ray picture called dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is used to detect if you have osteoporosis. It measures the density of bones in the spine, hip and wrist (the areas most involved in the disease). You should consult you doctor about taking this test if you’re a woman and you’re older than 65, post menopausal or have any of the other risk factors mentioned above.

How is it treated?

There are a few ways to treat osteoporosis:

1. Medications – A group of drugs called bisphosphonates are the most common drugs used to treat osteoporosis. They inhibit the process in which bones are broken down, thereby slowing the disease process.
2. Calcium – Since calcium is a mineral used in building bone, supplementing with it is one of the treatments for osteoporosis. In order for calcium to absorb better in the body, you should also take vitamin D.
3. Exercise – Doing aerobics, weight bearing exercises and resistance exercises help in the building of new bone and the slowing down of the disease.

What happens after treatment?

It’s important to not reach a stage when the fractures occur. Hip fractures, for example, can lead to complications (such as deep vein thrombosis and others), and can lead to major disability and even death.

If you do adhere to the treatment, though, you will most probably die with the disease instead of from it.

The bottom line – How do I avoid it?

1. Exercise – It’s recommended that you get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day to strengthen your bones and prevent osteoporosis. Exercise stimulates your bones to create new bone. Examples of exercises you can do include aerobics, climbing stairs, dancing, jogging, running and walking.
2. Get enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet – Not getting enough calcium will cause your body to break down bones (which contain it) when it needs it. Eating low-fat or fat-free dairy products and other calcium-rich foods, or even taking calcium supplements, can help prevent osteoporosis. Since vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, taking it is also important.
3. Quit smoking
4. Don’t drink too much alcohol
5. Don’t drink too many soft drinks – Especially cola drinks, since the extra phosphorus in them binds with calcium and prevents it from being absorbed in the body.

Know any tips of your own to prevent osteoporosis? Share them in the comments.

What next?

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