Bone Health - Get the facts
When osteoporosis occurs the body begins to lose more bone than it can replace, making the bones weaker. Weak bones are more likely to fracture. Osteoporosis usually affects the whole skeleton but it most commonly causes breaks or fractures in the spine, hip and forearm.
Bone is a living tissue and is constantly changing. The bones in our skeleton are made of a thick outer shell and a strong inner mesh filled with collagen (protein), calcium salts and other minerals. The inside looks like honeycomb, with blood vessels and bone marrow in the spaces between the bone. Old, worn out bone is broken down by cells called osteoclasts and replaced by bone building cells, called osteoblasts which means your body keeps your bones strong by replacing old bone with new bone. This process of renewal is called bone turnover.
Could I experience a fracture and not even know it?
Osteoporosis is often called the "silent disease," because you may not experience any symptoms until a fracture occurs. In fact, 1 in 3 women over 50 and 1 in 5 men are at risk for fracture or have at least one spinal fracture and don't know it. Spinal fractures caused by osteoporosis are most often painless, which greatly increases the risk for future fractures. A woman?s risk of hip fracture alone, equals her combined risk of developing breast, uterine or ovarian cancer.
Am I at increased risk of having osteoporosis?
Your chances of developing osteoporosis are greater if you are woman and answer “yes” to any one or more of the following questions:
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Are you...?
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Do you have...?
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How do I get tested for osteoporosis?
The diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis begins with a measurement of your current bone density using a DXA system. Today, when doctors detect bone loss in the earliest stage, treatment, along with preventative measures, are more successful.
Bone densitometry (DXA) measures bone density safely and painlessly. Sometimes an additional low-dose x-ray image, called VFA (Vertebral Fracture Assessment) will be performed of the entire spine. This allows doctors to see existing vertebral fractures, which may indicate the need for more aggressive treatment, even if bone density results are in the “normal” range. Results are immediately available for your doctor’s review, so he/she can provide a more thorough assessment of your bone health without delay.
What happens during the bone densitometry exam?
During your exam, you will lay comfortably on a padded table while the bone densitometry system scans two or more areas, usually your hip and spine. Unlike typical x-ray machines, radiation exposure during bone densitometry is extremely low. The entire process takes only minutes to complete. It involves no injections or invasive procedures, and as long as you have no zippers or metal buttons on your clothing, you can remain fully clothed.
How can I help prevent the development of osteoporosis?
There are steps you can take, even if you already have the disease to help prevent osteoporosis. The below measures, along with therapies your doctor may prescribe, can help slow its progression.
- Make calcium-rich foods a regular part of your diet, or consider calcium supplements.
- Maintain an adequate supply of vitamin D through sufficient exposure to the sun and through diet
- Exercise regularly (weight-bearing exercises are best for your bones)
- Avoid smoking
- Limit your intake of soft drinks and coffee
- Alcoholic beverages should be moderation
- Speak with your doctor about testing for bone density and your risk for potential fractures
Is there a treatment for osteoporosis?
Once patients are identified as having osteoporosis, there are a number of treatments available that may not only stop the progression of bone loss, but may actually replenish bone, strengthen the skeleton, and decrease the risk of future fracture. The challenge for all doctors is to provide adequate testing that can lead to effective prevention and treatment.
What are some facts and statistics*?
- Osteoporosis affects an estimated 75 million people in Europe, USA and Japan
- 30-50% of women and 20-30% of men will suffer a fracture related to osteoporosis in their lifetime
- Women who develop a vertebral fracture are at substantial risk for additional fracture within the next year
- The combined lifetime risk for hip, forearm and vertebral fractures is around 40%, equivalent to the risk for cardiovascular disease.
- In white women, the lifetime risk of hip fracture is 1 in 6, compared with a 1 in 8 risk of a diagnosis of breast cancer
- By 2050, the worldwide incidence of hip fracture in men is projected to increase by 310% and 240% in women
- A woman's risk of a hip fracture is equal to her combined risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer.
- An average of 24 percent of hip fracture patients aged 50 and over die in the year following their fracture.
- At six months after a hip fracture, only 15 percent of hip fracture patients can walk across a room unaided.
