Brittle Bones! Watch out for osteoporosis
Osteoporosis causes bones to be weak and brittle. With brittle bones, even a small fall may result in a bone fracture. Bone is tissue in the body that provides support and is constantly being broken down into the bloodstream and then replaced. With osteoporosis, this process of breaking down and renewal is flawed and the creation of new bone can’t keep up with the breakdown of old bone.
Osteoporosis can affect people from all races, but white and asian women who are past menopause are at the highest risk.
Symptoms
Early stages of osteoporosis show no symptoms, but as the bones become more weak with disease onset, symptoms include:
- Back pain
- A stooped posture
- Loss of height
- A bone that breaks more easily than expected
Risk Factors:
There are many factors that contribute to developing osteoporosis, with some factors you cannot control which include:
Sex: Women are much more likely to get osteoporosis compared to men.
Age: Risk of osteoporosis increases with age.
Race: White and asian descent has an increased risk of developing osteoporosis.
Family history: Family members with osteoporosis increase the likelihood you may develop osteoporosis.
Body frame size: People with smaller frames have a higher risk of developing osteoporosis.
Other factors include:
-Low calcium intake
-Eating disorders
Gastrointestinal surgery
Furthermore, lifestyle factors can increase risk of osteoporosis. This includes:
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Tobacco use
How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
Osteoporosis can be diagnosed by a licensed physician (usually ones primary care provider) and is usually diagnosed with a bone density or dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan. This imaging test measures bone density and can help diagnose bone–related health problems such as osteoporosis.
Preventing against osteoporosis
Maintaining good nutrition and regular exercise can help keep your bones healthy.
Calcium is an important supplement in which adults need 1,000 mg a day. As you grow older, with women past 50 and men past 70, calcium intake that is required increases to 1,200 mg.
Good sources of calcium include
- Dairy products
- Dark green leafy vegetables
- Canned salmon
- Soy products
In addition to calcium, vitamin D improves the body’s ability to absorb calcium. Vitamin D can be obtained from the sun, but some people that are not receiving sufficient sunlight may need to supplement their vitamin D with a diet which includes cod liver oil, trout, and salmon. Vitamin D supplements may also be used to increase levels of vitamin d.
Regular exercise can build strong bones and slow bone loss. Strength training exercises combined with weight-bearing and balance exercises can strengthen muscles and bone. Balance exercises help with decreasing risk of falling.
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