Osteoporosis
What is Osteoporosis ?
Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle, so brittle that a fall or even mild stresses such as bending over or coughing can cause a break. Osteoporosis-related breaks most commonly occur in the hip, wrist, or spine. Bone is living tissue that is constantly being broken down and replaced. Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone doesn’t keep up with the loss of old bone.
Osteoporosis affects men and women of all races. But white and Asian women, especially older women who are past menopause, are at the highest risk. Medicines, a healthy diet, and weight-bearing exercise can help prevent bone loss or strengthen already weak bones.
Symptoms
- Back pain
- Loss of height over time
- A stooped posture
- A bone that breaks much more easily
- Losing an inch or more of your height
- Weakened Grip Strength
- Shortness of breath
- Lower back pain
- Receding Gums and Tooth Loss
- Brittle Nails
Cause
Your bones are in a constant state of renewal — new bone is made and old bone is broken down. When you’re young, your body makes new bone faster than it breaks down old bone, and your bone mass increases. After the early 20s, this process slows, and most people reach their peak bone mass by age 30. As people age, bone mass is lost faster than it’s created. How likely you are to develop osteoporosis depends partly on how much bone mass you attained in your youth. Peak bone mass is partly inherited and also varies by ethnic group. The higher your peak bone mass, the more bone you have “in the bank” and the less likely you are to develop osteoporosis as you age.
Risk Factors
Several factors can increase the likelihood that you’ll develop osteoporosis, including your age, race, lifestyle choices, and medical conditions and treatments. Some risk factors for osteoporosis are out of your control, including your sex, age, race, family history, and body frame size. Osteoporosis is more common in people who have too much or too little of certain hormones in their bodies. Examples include sex hormones, thyroid problems, and other glands. Osteoporosis is more likely to occur in people who have low calcium intake, eating disorders, or gastrointestinal surgery. Long-term use of oral or injected corticosteroid medicines, such as prednisone and cortisone, interferes with the bone-rebuilding process. Osteoporosis has also been associated with medications used to combat or prevent seizures, gastric reflux, cancer, and transplant rejection. The risk of osteoporosis is higher in people who have certain medical problems, including celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney or liver disease, multiple myeloma, and rheumatoid arthritis. Some bad habits can increase your risk of osteoporosis. Examples include a sedentary lifestyle, excessive alcohol consumption, and tobacco use.
When to see a Doctor
You might want to talk to your health care provider about osteoporosis if you went through early menopause or took corticosteroids for several months at a time, or if either of your parents had hip fractures.