Osteoporosis

The silent disease

Osteoporosis is a “silent” disease affecting an estimated 44 million people in the United States, with roughly 70 percent of those being women. Most are not even aware they have fallen victim to osteoporosis until they break a bone. 

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by loss of bone tissue, which thins and weakens the bones and makes them more susceptible to fracture. Osseous tissue is one of the many types of tissues that make up bone. Throughout our lives that tissue is broken down and then replaced with new bone. However, as people get older, more bone is broken down than is replaced. The word “osteoporosis” means “porous bone.”
    It is estimated that once over age 50, half of all women and a quarter of all men will have a bone fracture due to osteoporosis. Individuals with osteoporosis most often break bones in the hip, spine and wrist, but any bone can be affected. Spine fractures are common in people with osteoporosis; a reduction in height of one inch or more may be the first sign that someone has had a spine fracture. A curved spine, stooped posture, back pain or back fatigue may be symptoms of multiple spine fractures.
    Osteoporosis can strike at any age, but it is more common among older people, especially women. For most women, the rate of bone loss increases for several years after menopause. In men, the bone loss occurs more slowly. But by age 65 or 70, most men and women are losing bone at the same rate.

Risk factors for osteoporosis include but are not limited to:
•    Aging
•    Being small and thin (small bone structure)
•    Having a family history of osteoporosis
•    Taking certain medications
•    Being of Caucasian or Asian descent 
•    Having osteopenia (low bone mass)
    Men and women over the age of 45 who have experienced one or more fractures should talk to their doctor about getting evaluated for osteoporosis. The bone density test (DXA scan) is safe, painless and noninvasive, and determines if you have normal bone density, low bone mass or osteoporosis. It is the only bone density test that can be used to diagnose osteoporosis and monitor bone density changes over time.
    The United States Preventive Service Task Force recommends that women aged 65 and older be screened for osteoporosis, as well as women aged 60 and older who are at an increased risk for an osteoporosis-related fracture. However, the decision of whether or not to have a bone density test is best made between a patient and his or her physician.
    Although there is no cure for osteoporosis, it can be treated. The goal of treatment is to prevent fractures. Proper diet, exercise, healthy lifestyle choices and medications can help in the prevention of bone loss and reduce the risk of fractures. Currently there are several medications approved and used for the treatment of osteoporosis. It is important to talk to your doctor about which medication is right for you.
    You can find more information about osteoporosis and bone loss at nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/osteoporosis.html.
 

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Phyllis Pratt is the Perinatal Program Coordinator for Partnership HealthPlan of California, which is a member of the Solano Coalition for Better Health.
 
The Solano Coalition for Better Health is a countywide nonprofit organization comprised of health care providers, county health services, educational institutions, and community organizations. Since its inception in 1988, the Coalition has developed successful programs through partnerships that have improved the health of county residents.

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