Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue. This leads to an increased risk of fractures, typically in the hip, spine and wrist.
Some key facts about osteoporosis:

• It is often called a "silent disease" as there are usually no symptoms until a fracture occurs


• It affects both men and women, but women are at higher risk due to the drop in estrogen levels during menopause


• Major risk factors include:
  
  
  
  
  • Getting older
  
  
  • Family history of osteoporosis
  
  
  • Being female
  
  
  • Having a small, thin body frame
  
  


• Fractures resulting from osteoporosis can lead to chronic pain, disability, and even early mortality

How is osteoporosis diagnosed?

Osteoporosis is diagnosed with a bone mineral density (BMD) test, such as a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan. This test measures bone loss by comparing your BMD to that of a healthy 30 year old adult. If your BMD falls more than 2.5 standard deviations below average, you are diagnosed with osteoporosis.

What causes bone loss in osteoporosis?

There are several factors that can accelerate bone loss:

• Lack of calcium and vitamin D


• Excess alcohol intake


• Smoking tobacco


• Excess glucocorticoid use


• Inactive lifestyle lacking weight-bearing exercise

The main cause in women is estrogen deficiency occurring after menopause, leading to rapid mineral loss from bones. This is why women >65 have the highest rates of osteoporosis.

How can you prevent and treat osteoporosis?

Prevention starts early with building strong bones through exercise and nutrition. Key preventative measures include:

• Adequate calcium and vitamin D intake


• Weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercises


• Avoidance of smoking and excess alcohol


• Periodic BMD testing to monitor bone health

For treatment, your doctor may prescribe supplements like calcium and vitamin D along with medication like bisphosphonates. Our clinic, Hormone Revive, also offers bioidentical hormone therapy to help normalize estrogen levels in peri/postmenopausal women as a preventative therapy. This comprehensive approach helps rebuild bone and prevent fractures.

I hope this overview on osteoporosis gives you a better understanding of this disease. Let me know if you have any other questions!