Get the Lowdown on Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a common bone disorder affecting more than 10 million people in the U.S. This disorder occurs when bone density and mass decrease significantly, causing bones to become weak and brittle. Bone is a living tissue that is constantly breaking down and replacing itself. Over time, bone creation can become slower than bone loss. Women experience this disorder four times as much as men, so it’s crucial to know how to reduce your risk early and prevent bone fractures.

Symptoms

For most, osteoporosis is asymptomatic, especially in the early stages of the disease. Once the disorder weakens the bones, though, some women may experience:

• Loss in height
• Posture changes
• Severe back pain

Risk Factors

Several factors can increase the risk of developing osteoporosis, such as:

• Being Caucasian or Asian
• Having a family history of osteoporosis
• Living a sedentary or inactive lifestyle
• Smoking tobacco or drinking alcohol
• Starting menopause early
• Taking certain medications, like some blood thinners, seizure medications and steroids

Diagnosing Osteoporosis

Health experts recommend that women screen for osteoporosis at age 65, or earlier if there’s a present health condition that affects bone strength, such as celiac disease, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. A bone scan, known as a Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA), screens the density of a bone and generates a “T score.” This score compares the scanned bone to women as a young, healthy adult age. The lower the score, the more likely a women will have a osteoporosis diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment for this disorder may include lifestyle and home remedies or medications to help limit bone breakdown, maintain bone density and lower the risk of a fracture. Some treatments come with risks, so patients and their care team should consider the risks and benefits of their options.

Osteoporosis can affect many women as they age, but there are ways to get ahead of it before it starts or worsens. If you have any of the osteoporosis risk factors, speak with a Meritas Health OB-GYN to learn more and get screened. If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, reach out to your primary care provider for treatment and support.