What Is Osteoporosis?

What Is Osteoporosis?

Breaking the name – osteo refers to bone and porosis, yes it means making the bones porous, thus Osteoporosis refers to the weakening of bones and increase in the risk of unexpected fractures. Some fractures can lead to serious consequences.

How do you find out if you have Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is referred to as the “silent disease” because bone is lost without any warning/signs. You may not know that you have osteoporosis until a strain, bump, or fall causes a bone to break.

What Causes Osteoporosis?

Many risk factors can lead to bone loss and osteoporosis. Some of these things you cannot change and others you can.

Risk factors that you cannot change include:

• Gender – Women get osteoporosis more often than men.
• Age – The older you are, the greater your risk of osteoporosis.
• Body size – Small, thin women are at greater risk.
• Ethnicity – White and Asian women are at highest risk. Black and Hispanic women have a lower risk.
• Family history – Osteoporosis tends to run in families.

Other risk factors include:

• 

  Osteoporosis Risk Factors

• Sex hormones – Lower estrogen levels due to missing menstrual periods/menopause can cause osteoporosis in women. Low testosterone levels can bring on osteoporosis in men.
• Anorexia nervosa – This eating disorder can lead to osteoporosis.
• Low Calcium and vitamin D intake – A diet low in calcium and vitamin D makes you more prone to bone loss.
• Activity level – Lack of exercise or long-term bed rest can cause weak bones.
• Smoking and alcohol consumption can cause bone loss and broken bones.

 How can Osteoporosis be diagnosed?

The best way to check bone health is through a bone mineral density test.

This test can:

• Check bone strength
• Check if treatments are working and making the bones stronger.

Good News!! Osteoporosis can be prevented, here’s how:

There are several ways you can choose to help keep your bones healthy.

• Eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D
• Get into the action mode – Exercise!
• Have an eye on your habits – Not drink in excess or smoke.

Diet and Nutrition

A diet with enough calcium and vitamin D helps make your bones strong. Most often people get less than half the calcium they need.

Some good sources of calcium include milk, yoghurt, and cheese. Fortified foods – Foods with added calcium such as orange juice, cereals, and breads are also said to be rich in Calcium.

Vitamin D is also needed for strong bones. Some people may need to take vitamin D pills.

 Exercise

Exercise helps your bones grow stronger. To increase bone strength, you can:

• Walk/Hike/Jog
• Climb stairs
• Play tennis
• Lift weights
• Dance!

How can Osteoporosis be treated?

Treatment for osteoporosis includes:

• A balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D
• An regular exercise plan
• A healthy lifestyle
• Medications, if needed.

As you age, you need to take care of yourself and one way to keep those broken bones at bay for people suffering from osteoporosis is to take care not to fall down. Falls can break bones.

Reasons why people fall include:

• Poor vision
• Certain diseases that affect how you walk
• Some types of medicine, such as sleeping pills.
• Poor balance

Now, how do we counter that – how to prevent falls outdoors, here is a list of ways:

• Use a cane or walker
• Wear rubber-soled shoes so you don’t slip
• Walk on grass when sidewalks are slippery

How do you prevent falls indoors?

• Keep homes/rooms clutter-free.
• Wear flat shoes that provide good support
• Avoid walking with socks, stockings, or slippers
• Ensure carpets and area rugs have skid-proof backs or are tacked to the floor
• Keep stairs well-lit and ensure that they have rails on both sides
• You could think of putting grab bars on bathroom walls near tub, shower, and toilet
• Try using a rubber bath mat in the shower or tub
• Always have a flashlight near you at your bed

Sources:

WebMd

International Osteoporosis Foundation

NIH

Tags

• age
• bones
• osteo
• osteoporosis
• risk factors
• women