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 fracture. Osteoporosis-related fractures most commonly occur in the hip, wrist or spine. Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone doesn't keep up with the removal of old bone. It affects men and women of all races. But white and Asian women especially older women who are past menopause are at highest risk.
Symptoms and causes
There typically are no symptoms in the early stages of bone loss. But once your bones have been weakened by osteoporosis, you may have signs and symptoms that include Back pain, caused by a fractured or collapsed vertebra, Loss of height over time, A stooped posture, bone fracture that occurs much more easily than expected.
Risk factors
A number of factors can increase the likelihood that you'll develop osteoporosis including your age, sex, race, family history, lifestyle choices, and medical conditions and treatment. Women are much more likely to develop osteoporosis than are men; the older you get, the greater your risk of osteoporosis. You're at greatest risk of osteoporosis if you're white or of Asian descent, also, having a parent or sibling with osteoporosis puts you at greater risk, especially if your mother or father experienced a hip fracture. Men and women who have small body frames tend to have a higher risk because they may have less bone mass to draw from as they age. Osteoporosis is more common in people who have too much or too little of certain hormones in their bodies. Lowered sex hormone levels tend to weaken bone. Too much thyroid hormone can cause bone loss. Osteoporosis has also been associated with overactive parathyroid and adrenal glands.
Complications
Osteoporosis is more likely to occur in people who have Low calcium intake. Surgery to reduce the size of your stomach or to remove part of the intestine limits the amount of surface area available to absorb nutrients, including calcium. Long-term use of oral or injected corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone and cortisone, interferes with the bone-rebuilding process. Osteoporosis has also been associated with medications used to combat or prevent Seizures and Gastric reflux The risk of osteoporosis is higher in people who have certain medical problems, including: Rheumatoid Arthritis Celiac disease, Inflammatory bowel disease, Kidney or liver disease, Cancer, Lupus and Multiple myeloma.
Lifestyle choices
Some bad habits can increase your risk of osteoporosis. People who spend a lot of time sitting have a higher risk of osteoporosis than do those who are more active. Any weight-bearing exercise and activities that promote balance and good posture are beneficial for your bones, but walking, running, jumping, dancing and weightlifting seem particularly helpful. Regular consumption of more than two alcoholic drinks a day increases your risk of osteoporosis. The exact role tobacco plays in osteoporosis isn't clearly understood, but it has been shown that tobacco use contributes to weak bones.
Compression Fractures
Bone fractures, particularly in the spine or hip, are the most serious complication of osteoporosis. Hip fractures often are caused by a fall and can result in disability and even an increased risk of death within the first year after the injury. In some cases, spinal fractures can occur even if you haven't fallen. The bones that make up your spine (vertebrae) can weaken to the point that they may crumple, which can result in back pain, lost height and a hunched forward posture.
Diagnosis
Your bone density can be measured by a machine that uses low levels of X-rays to determine the proportion of mineral in your bones. During this painless test, you lie on a padded table as a scanner passes over your body. In most cases, only a few bones are checked usually in the hip, wrist and spine.
Treatment
Treatment recommendations are often based on an estimate of your risk of breaking a bone in the next 10 years using information such as the bone density test. If the risk is not high, treatment might not include medication and might focus instead on modifying risk factors for bone loss and falls. For both men and women at increased risk of fracture, the most widely prescribed osteoporosis medications are bisphosphonates. Examples include: Alendronate (Fosamax), Risedronate (Actonel, Atelvia), Ibandronate (Boniva) and Zoledronic acid (Reclast) Side effects include nausea, abdominal pain and heartburn-like symptoms. These are less likely to occur if the medicine is taken properly. Intravenous forms of bisphosphonates don't cause stomach upset but can cause fever, headache and muscle aches for up to three days. And it may be easier to schedule a quarterly or yearly injection than to remember to take a weekly or monthly pill, but it can be more costly to do so. Using bisphosphonate therapy for more than five years has been linked to a very rare problem in which the middle of the thighbone cracks and might even break completely. Bisphosphonates also have the potential to affect the jawbone. Osteonecrosis of the jaw is a rare condition that can occur typically after a tooth extraction in which a section of jawbone fails to heal where the tooth was pulled. You should have a recent dental examination before starting bisphosphonates.
Hormone-related therapy
Estrogen, especially when started soon after menopause, can help maintain bone density. However, estrogen therapy can increase the risk of blood clots, endometrial cancer, breast cancer and possibly heart disease. Therefore, estrogen is typically used for bone health in younger women or in women whose menopausal symptoms also require treatment. Raloxifene (Evista) mimics estrogen's beneficial effects on bone density in postmenopausal women, without some of the risks associated with estrogen. Taking this drug may reduce the risk of some types of breast cancer. Hot flashes are a common side effect.
Raloxifene also may increase your risk of blood clots. In men, osteoporosis may be linked with a gradual age-related decline in testosterone levels. Testosterone replacement therapy can help improve symptoms of low testosterone, but osteoporosis medications have been better studied in men to treat osteoporosis and thus are recommended alone or in addition to testosterone.
Other osteoporosis medications
If you can't tolerate the more common treatments for osteoporosis or if they don't work well enough, your doctor might suggest trying:
Denosumab (Prolia): compared with bisphosphonates, denosumab produces similar or better bone density results and reduces the chance of all types of fractures. Denosumab is delivered via a shot under the skin every six months.
Teriparatide (Forteo): this powerful drug is similar to parathyroid hormone and stimulates new bone growth. It's given by daily injection under the skin. After two years of treatment with teriparatide, another osteoporosis drug is taken to maintain the new bone growth.
Alternative medicine
Soy protein appears to have activity similar to estrogen on bone tissue. Some studies indicate that bone fracture risk is lessened in postmenopausal Asian women who consume higher amounts of soy protein. But soy should be used with caution by women who have a family or personal history of breast cancer. Most available soy products have not been shown to reduce the chance of fractures. Ipriflavone is a product made in a laboratory from one of the isoflavones found in soy. When combined with calcium, ipriflavone appears to prevent bone loss and reduce pain associated with compression fractures in the spine.
Self-management
Prevention
Good nutrition and regular exercise are essential for keeping your bones healthy throughout your life.
Protein
Protein is one of the building blocks of bone. And while most people get plenty of protein in their diets, some do not. Vegetarians and vegans can get enough protein in the diet if they intentionally seek suitable sources, such as soy, nuts, legumes, and dairy and eggs if allowed. Older adults may also eat less protein for various reasons. Protein supplementation is an option.
Body weight
Being underweight increases the chance of bone loss and fractures. Excess weight is now known to increase the risk of fractures in your arm and wrist. As such, maintaining an appropriate body weight is good for bones just as it is for health in general.
Calcium
Men and women between the ages of 18 and 50 need 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day. This daily amount increases to 1,200 milligrams when women turn 50 and men turn 70. Good sources of calcium include: Low-fat dairy products, Dark green leafy vegetables, canned salmon or sardines with bones, Soy products, such as tofu and Calcium-fortified cereals and orange juice If you find it difficult to get enough calcium from your diet, consider taking calcium supplements. However, too much calcium has been linked to kidney stones. Although yet unclear, some experts suggest that too much calcium especially in supplements can increase the risk of heart disease. The Institute of Medicine recommends that total calcium intake, from supplements and diet combined, should be no more than 2,000 milligrams daily for people older than 50.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D improves your body's ability to absorb calcium and improves bone health in other ways. People can get adequate amounts of vitamin D from sunlight, but this may not be a good source if you live in a high latitude, if you're housebound, or if you regularly use sunscreen or avoid the sun entirely because of the risk of skin cancer. Scientists don't yet know the optimal daily dose of vitamin D for each person. A good starting point for adults is 600 to 800 international units (IU) a day, through food or supplements. For people without other sources of vitamin D and especially with limited sun exposure, a supplement may be needed. Most multivitamin products contain between 600 and 800 IU of vitamin D. Up to 4,000 IU of vitamin D a day is safe for most people.Exercise
Exercise can help you build strong bones and slow bone loss. Exercise will benefit your bones no matter when you start, but you'll gain the most benefits if you start exercising regularly when you're young and continue to exercise throughout your life. Combine strength training exercises with weight-bearing and balance exercises. Strength training helps strengthen muscles and bones in your arms and upper spine, and weight-bearing exercises — such as walking, jogging, running, stair climbing, skipping rope, skiing and impact-producing sports — affect mainly the bones in your legs, hips and lower spine. Balance exercises such as tai chi can reduce your risk of falling especially as you get older. Swimming, cycling and exercising on machines such as elliptical trainers can provide a good cardiovascular workout, but they're not as helpful for improving bone health