Osteoporosis is a condition that
causes weakening of the bones in your body.
Also called "brittle bone disease”, osteoporosis affects 55% of
Americans aged 50 and above. Of these, approximately 80% are women. It is estimated that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 12
men over the age of 50 worldwide have osteoporosis. Osteoporosis increases your
chance of sustaining a broken bone.
Broken bones can cause significant problems, it is responsible for
millions of fractures annually, mostly involving the lumbar vertebrae, hip, and
wrist. Fragility fractures of ribs are also common in men. Because of these
concerns, all people should understand their chance of developing osteoporosis,
and if they need steps to prevent the development or progression of
osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a silent disease that is
difficult to diagnose. Hopefully your bones are solid and strong and will
remain that way. A diseased bone viewed through a microscope presents a very
different picture, with tiny holes and spaces. You might not even know you have
osteoporosis until a minor injury causes you to suffer a fracture, especially
in your hip. spine, or wrist. That's why you should be aware of the early
warning signs of osteoporosis, which include periodontal disease, increased
curvature of the spinal column, loss of height, or pain in the middle or lower
back. Compression fractures of the spine, a specific kind of bone break
involving the vertebrae, can cause symptoms that range from nonexistent to
severe, The classic image of an aged woman with a dowager's hump, the
not-so-attractive upper-back deformity, is an image of a woman whose body has
suffered the ravages of vertebral fractures and bone loss.
Your health care provider can use an x-ray
that measures bone mineral density to determine if you are at risk for
osteoporosis. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends that women over
age sixty-five be screened annually. The most accurate test is an x-ray that
measures bone density in your spine and hip. The test itself is quick and
painless, and most insurance plans will cover it. It is important to check your
height on a yearly basis, too, as losing stature can also be indicative of
osteoporosis.
Much of the reserve of healthy bone is
built in youth and before the age of 30. One measure of the health of bones is
"bone mineral density" or BMD for short. A bone scan to assess BMD is
a relatively simple procedure that is offered by medical practitioners. Women
may be more susceptible to an inadequate foundation process at this time than
men. Sufficient calcium intake, a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and
vegetables and load-bearing exercise are the keys to solid bone growth when
you're young. Weight-bearing exercise is vital for bone health. Running,
jogging, walking, dancing, and weight training are all exercises that put more
weight on bones than activities such as swimming. The added weight on the legs
encourages bone formation, creating a stronger frame that has less chance of
being fractured. Exercise also decreases the risk of falls by improving
balance. You should begin with a simple exercise protocol from a qualified
health care professional when you are young, and then, with continued exercise
into old age --- and this goes for men as well -- bone density decline can be
kept to a minimum.
