Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis means ‘porous bone.’ It is a condition where bones become thin and lose their strength, as they become less dense, and their quality is reduced. 

Most people don’t know they have osteoporosis until they suffer a broken bone from a minor fall or bump, which would not usually have caused such a severe injury.

Around the world, one in three women and one in five men over the age of fifty will suffer a broken bone due to osteoporosis.

Facts about osteoporosis

-Osteoporosis is a condition where the quality, quantity, and strength of your bones is reduced, making them more likely to break.
– One in three women and one in five men over the age of 50 will be affected by a broken bone due to osteoporosis.
– It is a severe condition, but it can be treated. You can help prevent osteoporosis through a good diet and lifestyle.
– Early diagnosis means that treatment can be more effective – don’t ignore back pain!
– If you’ve broken any bone (for example, your wrist) after a minor fall from standing height, this could be a sign that you have osteoporosis. Be sure to ask your doctor for testing and treatment – because one broken bone is a warning of more to come!

Diagnosis

As traditional X-rays cannot measure bone density and can only identify spine fractures, a bone mineral density (BMD) test must be measured by more specialized techniques. The most commonly used BMD test is a densitometric technique called DXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry).

Diagnostic criteria using BMD measurements

Normal                                             -1 and above

Osteopenia                                      Between -1 and -2.5

Osteoporosis                                   -2.5 or lower

Severe osteoporosis                      -2.5 or lower and presence of at least one fragility fracture

Treatment

There is no “silver bullet” remedy for osteoporosis, and it takes a whole-person approach. Get enough dietary calcium, Vitamin D, regular exercises, fall prevention, and avoid smoking and excess alcohol.

If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis or had an osteoporotic fracture, talk to your doctor about medication options.