►
What is Osteoporosis?
►
Frequently Asked Questions
►
Resources
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a disease that thins and weakens the bones to the point where they break more easily. Most breaks occur in bones in the hip, backbone (spine), and wrist.
Osteoporosis is often called the “silent disease.” You may not notice any changes until a bone breaks. But your bones have been losing strength over many years.
Bone is living tissue. To keep bones strong, the body is always breaking down old bone and replacing it with new tissue. As people enter their forties and fifties, more bone is broken down than is replaced.
FAQS
Who gets Osteoporosis?
How to Find Out if You Have Osteoporosis?
Prevent Osteoporosis
Treatment
Avoid Falls
Osteoporosis in Men
Resources
Who gets Osteoporosis?
Men and women of all ages and ethnicities can develop osteoporosis. However, there are factors that may make you more likely to develop osteoporosis. Those at greatest risk include people who are:
-
Female
-
White/Caucasian and Asian ethnicity
-
Post menopausal women
-
Older
-
Have small body frames
-
Have not gotten enough calcium throughout their lives
-
Are physically inactive
-
Have a family history of the disease
-
Have used certain medications for a long time.
How do I find out if I have Osteoporosis?
Do you think you are getting shorter as you age? Do you break bones easily? If you answered “yes”, it may be the first sign of osteoporosis. But it doesn’t have to be!
Bone density is a term that describes how solid your bones are. Ordinary x-rays do not show bone loss until a large amount of bone mass is gone. There are several kinds of
tests to measure bone density. Ask your doctor about these tests if you think you are at risk for osteoporosis, or if you are a woman around the age of menopause or older.
Can I prevent Osteoporosis?
The good news is that osteoporosis is preventable!
The best ways to prevent osteoporosis are to:
-
Eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, and
-
Include regular weight-bearing activities in your lifestyle.
Calcium. Getting enough calcium all through your life helps to build and keep strong bones. If you are over the age of 50, you should be getting 1200 mg of calcium each day. To do this, make foods that are high in calcium part of what you eat. Foods high in calcium include:
-
Low fat dairy foods
-
Canned fish with soft bones (i.e. salmon)
-
Dark green leafy vegetables (i.e. spinach)
-
Calcium-fortified foods (i.e orange juice, breads and cereals).
If you think you need to take a supplement to get enough calcium, check with your doctor or health professional first.
Vitamin D. Your body uses vitamin D to adsorb calcium. Being out in the sun for a total of 20 minutes every day helps most people’s bodies make enough vitamin D. Sometimes this isn’t possible. Other ways to get vitamin D include eating:
If you think you need to take a supplement to get enough vitamin D, check with your doctor or health professional first.
Weight-bearing activities. Weight-bearing activities, such as walking, jogging, playing tennis and dancing, are best for preventing osteoporosis. These activities should be done three to four times a week. Strengthening and balance activities may help you avoid falls and lessen your chance of breaking a bone.
Is Osteoporosis treatable?
Yes, osteoporosis is treatable! The treatment of osteoporosis aims to stop bone loss and rebuild bone to prevent broken bones. Along with making the life-style changes mentioned in
preventing osteoporosis, there are several medications available. Some medications will slow your rate of bone loss, and others can help you rebuild bone. Talk with your doctor or health professional to see if one of these is right for you.
How can I avoid falls?
When your bones are weakened by osteoporosis, a simple fall can cause you to break or fracture a bone. This often results in a trip to the hospital and surgery. If you have a hip fracture, you may end up with a long-lasting disabling condition.
To help you remain independent for as long as possible, it is important to prevent falls. Some things that you can do include:
-
Make sure you can see and hear well. Use your glasses or a hearing aid if needed.
-
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if any of the drugs or medications you are taking can make you dizzy, light-headed, or unsteady on your feet.
-
Use a cane or walker if your walking is unsteady.
-
Wear rubber-soled and low-heeled shoes.
-
Make sure all the rugs and carpeting in your house are firmly attached to the floor, or remove them.
-
Keep your rooms well lit and the floor free of clutter.
-
Use nightlights.
-
Use grab bars and non-skid tape in the shower or bathtub.
-
In the kitchen, use non-skid rubber mats near the sink and stove.
What about Osteoporosis in men?
Osteoporosis is not just a woman’s disease. Contrary to what you may have heard, men have osteoporosis too! However, men usually do not develop osteoporosis as often as women do. This may be because most men start with more bone mass than women, and lose it more slowly as they age.
Resources
Bone Health and Osteoporosis: A Report of the Surgeon General
http://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/library/bonehealth/
Executive summary Executive Summary - The executive summary version of the report is a technical publication that includes excerpts from the complete
report
Entire report Full Report - Thirteen chapters plus the message, preface, contents, acknowledgments, appendices, and index. [PDFs]. Chapters 11 and 12 would be of particular interest to state health departments.
Booklet that explains the report and how individuals can take action to improve their bone health. The 2004 Surgeon General's Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis: What It Means To You [PDF 1.5MB]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bonehealth/bonehealth.htm
National Institutes on Health
Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases – A National Resource Center
http://www.osteo.org/default.asp
National Osteoporosis Foundation
http://www.nof.org/
Bone Builders
http://www.bonebuilders.org/
Chronic Disease Directors
Osteoporosis State Program Practices that Work
http://www.chronicdisease.org/whc/Practices_that_Work.pdf
|
