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Osteoporosis is not a disease that
discriminates — it affects both men and women as they age.
Osteoporosis literally means “porous bones” and it causes bones
to become brittle and weak, often resulting in fractures from
even mild stresses like coughing or bending over. The disease is
usually characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of the
bone itself. While the best defense is building strong bones
before the age of 30, bone density can be improved at any age.
“Osteoporosis is a major health threat to 55 percent of people
aged 50 and older,” says
Michele McDermott, M.D., an
endocrinologist and director of the
Menopause and Osteoporosis Center
at The Austin Diagnostic Clinic (ADC). “It’s a largely
preventable disease, and that’s important to know because there
isn’t a cure for osteoporosis. A healthy lifestyle is critical
to keep your bones strong and prevent osteoporosis from
developing.” |
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It’s estimated that 10 million Americans have osteoporosis.
Almost 34 million people in the U.S. are thought to have low
bone mass that puts them at risk of developing the disease,
according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF). While
it is often thought of as a woman’s disease, about 20 percent of
those affected by osteoporosis are men. Risk factors for
developing osteoporosis include:
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Sex. Females are more likely to develop the disease,
as they tend to have lower bone mass to start with and they
also live longer. |
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Age. The older a person is, the higher the risk of
osteoporosis, because bones weaken as you age. |
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Race. Risk is high for all ethnic backgrounds, but
you are at the greatest risk if you are white or of Asian
descent. |
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Family history. If you have a parent or sibling with
osteoporosis, your risk is higher. |
Other causes of increased risk
for osteoporosis include lifestyle factors, like taking certain
medications or chronic alcoholism. A lack of calcium over a
lifetime contributes to low bone density, and is a major factor
in the development of osteoporosis. Medications like the
blood-thinner heparin, certain antidepressants, corticosteroids,
or excess thyroid medications can all contribute to low bone
density. For men, alcoholism is one of the main risk factors for
developing osteoporosis as it reduces bone formation and
interferes with calcium absorption. Smoking increases bone loss
and may block calcium absorption, as well as decrease the amount
of estrogen a woman’s body makes.
Exercise throughout your life can improve bone mass. This is
especially true with children, as building strong bones during
childhood can prevent osteoporosis later in life.
“Your peak bone mass usually is attained between ages 25 and
35,” says Dr. McDermott. “Your risk of developing osteoporosis
depends on how much bone mass you built up during that time, and
how rapidly you lose it as you age. The more bone mass you’ve
built up, the less likely you are to develop this disease.”
While osteoporosis is thought of a disease for older adults, it
can strike at any age. There are steps you can take throughout
your life to help reduce your risk.
The five steps recommended by the NOF for building bone mass and
preventing osteoporosis are:
1. Get the
daily-recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D — 1200
milligrams of calcium and 800 milligrams of vitamin D. Calcium
is important for the heart, muscles, and nerves to function.
Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium from the food you eat.
2. Exercise to keep your
bones healthy. Weight-bearing exercise like walking,
dancing, jogging, hiking, and skiing helps build strong bones
and slow bone loss.
3. Talk to your doctor
about bone health and the medications you may be taking
that could impact your bone density, and find out if there are
treatments or medication you could be taking that can help
protect bone health.
4. Avoid smoking and
excessive alcohol.
5. Get screened for
osteoporosis. Bone densitometry is the only way to
diagnose osteoporosis and assess your risk for bone fracture.
Osteoporosis can develop undetected for years until a fracture
occurs, so early diagnosis and treatment is important.
“Bone densitometry is accurate
and non-invasive,” says Dr. McDermott. “It measures your bone
mass and, this type of screening is necessary to determine
whether you need to take medication to help maintain your bone
density.”
“It’s never too late or too early to begin thinking about bone
health and starting your osteoporosis prevention program,”
emphasizes Dr. McDermott. “By knowing your risk, you can take
steps to keep yourself strong and healthy throughout your life.”
Get your recommended daily amounts
of calcium and vitamin D!
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Calcium is needed for the
heart, muscles, and nerves to function properly and for
blood to clot. National nutrition surveys show that many
women and young girls consume less than half of the amount
of calcium recommended to grow and maintain healthy bones.
The recommended amount of calcium is 1,200 mg daily. You can
take a supplement if your diet doesn’t provide enough
calcium.
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Vitamin D is needed for
the body to absorb calcium. Without enough vitamin D, you
will be unable to absorb calcium from the foods you eat
(good sources include fortified milk, egg yolks, saltwater
fish, liver, and supplements). Vitamin D comes from two
sources: direct exposure to sunlight and from your diet.
Vitamin D3 is the form of vitamin D that best supports bone
health, and the recommended daily amount is 800 mg.
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Medical research has made
great advances in the area of osteoporosis treatments.
Within the past year, two new medications have been
approved. Prolia has been approved for postmenopausal women
at high risk for fracture, is given by subcutaneous
injection just twice per year. A new oral medication,
Atelvia, can be taken with food and is not associated with
gastrointestinal side effects. These treatments offer new
options that may be safer and better tolerated for some
patients with osteoporosis.
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The Austin Diagnostic
Clinic is a multi-specialty clinic with more than 110 physicians
representing 22 medical specialties at six locations
throughout Austin and Central Texas.
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