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Who Gets Osteoporosis? It is estimated that 25% of all women by age 50 have osteoporosis and that this risk doubles to 50% by age 70. Another fact about osteoporosis is that if a woman lives to age 80 she has a 15% risk of developing a hip fracture. This risk will double in her remaining life. In men, we are only beginning to appreciate the significance of osteoporosis. Men typically have a higher peak bone mass, so it takes longer for bone loss to reach a level where the bones fracture. What Causes Osteoporosis? Many risk factors can lead to bone loss and osteoporosis. Some of these things you cannot change and others you can. Risk factors you cannot change include: Gender. Women get osteoporosis more often than men. Age. The older you are, the greater your risk of osteoporosis. Body size. Small, thin women are at greater risk. Ethnicity. White and Asian women are at highest risk. Black and Hispanic women have a lower risk. Family history. Osteoporosis tends to run in families. If a family member has osteoporosis or breaks a bone, there is a greater chance that you will too. Other risk factors are: Sex hormones. Low estrogen levels due to missing menstrual periods or to menopause can cause osteoporosis in women. Low testosterone levels can bring on osteoporosis in men. Anorexia nervosa. This eating disorder can lead to osteoporosis. Calcium and vitamin D intake. A diet low in calcium and vitamin D makes you more prone to bone loss. Medication use. Some medicines increase the risk of osteoporosis. Activity level. Lack of exercise or long-term bed rest can cause weak bones. Smoking. Cigarettes are bad for bones, and the heart, and lungs, too. Drinking alcohol. Too much alcohol can cause bone loss and broken bones. Can Osteoporosis Be Prevented? There are many steps you can take to help keep your bones healthy. To help keep your bones strong and slow down bone loss, you can: Eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D. Exercise. Not drink in excess or smoke. Nutrition A healthy diet with enough calcium and vitamin D helps make your bones strong. Many people get less than half the calcium they need. Good sources of calcium are: Low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese. Foods with added calcium such as orange juice, cereals, and breads. Vitamin D is also needed for strong bones. Some people may need to take vitamin D pills. The chart on this page shows the amount of calcium and vitamin D you should get each day. Recommended Calcium and Vitamin D Intakes
Osteoporosis is called the "silent disease" because bone is lost with no signs. You may not know that you have osteoporosis until a strain, bump, or fall causes a bone to break. How is Osteoporosis Diagnosed? Osteoporosis is diagnosed by combining your medical history, a physical examination and specific tests for osteoporosis. These include x-rays to check if any bone fractures have occurred and bone mineral density scans. This scan measures the density/strength of your bones in comparison to the bone density of an average young adult of the same gender and ethnicity. The most reliable way to measure bone density is the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan, which is widely available around ________ with a doctors referral. A bone mineral density test is the best way to check your bone health. This test can: Diagnose osteoporosis and tell you whether you are likely to break a bone. Check bone strength. See if treatments are making the bones stronger. How Is Osteoporosis Treated? Treatment for osteoporosis includes: A balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D. An exercise plan. A healthy lifestyle. Medications, if needed. Which medications are commonly used for osteoporosis treatment? Bisphosphonates are the most common medications prescribed for osteoporosis treatment. These include: Alendronate (Fosamax) Risedronate (Actonel, Atelvia) Ibandronate (Boniva) Zoledronic acid (Reclast, Zometa) Hormones, such as estrogen, and some hormone-like medications approved for preventing and treating osteoporosis, such as raloxifene (Evista), also play a role in osteoporosis treatment. However, fewer women use estrogen replacement therapy now because it may increase the risk of heart attacks and some types of cancer. How do bisphosphonates work? Bisphosphonates slow the bone breakdown process. Healthy bones are in a state of continuous breakdown and rebuilding. As you get older, and especially after menopause when your estrogen levels decrease, the bone breakdown process accelerates. When bone rebuilding fails to keep pace, bones deteriorate and become weaker. Bisphosphonates basically put a brake on that. These drugs effectively preserve or maintain bone density during menopause and decrease the risk of breaking a bone as a result of osteoporosis. How do you know if you're taking the right medication? Drugs in the bisphosphonate class are more alike than they are different. Some studies show differences in potency or effectiveness at maintaining bone density, but they're all still effective drugs. All bisphosphonates have been shown to reduce the chance of a fracture. The decision to take one drug over another often is based on: Preference Convenience Adherence to the dosing schedule Your doctor might recommend a monthly dose of medication if it's going to be better tolerated or better accepted. But if you're the type of person who might forget to take your medicine every month, you might do better taking it once a week. What are common side effects of bisphosphonate pills? The main side effects of bisphosphonate pills are: Stomach upset Heartburn To ease these potential side effects, take the medication on an empty stomach with a tall glass of water. And don't lie down or bend over for 30 to 60 minutes to avoid the medicine washing back up into the esophagus. The majority of women who follow these tips don't experience these side effects. But it's possible for an unlucky few who take the medicine correctly to still have stomach upset or heartburn. Is there an advantage to an injected bisphosphonate versus a daily or monthly oral regimen? Bisphosphonate pills don't absorb very well in the stomach, which is why you should take them on an empty stomach and not eat for at least 30 minutes. But bisphosphonates also can cause stomach upset. To avoid this side effect, some women may: Eat too soon after taking the pill Take less than the fully prescribed amount of medication Stop taking the pills entirely Two infusion medications those that are injected directly into your vein have been approved for osteoporosis treatment: Ibandronate (Boniva), infused once every three months Zoledronic acid (Reclast, Zometa), infused once a year Injected forms of bisphosphonates don't cause stomach upset. And it may be easier for some women to schedule a quarterly or yearly injection than to remember to take a weekly or monthly pill. Can bisphosphonates hurt your bones? Long-term bisphosphonate therapy has been linked to a rare problem in which the upper thighbone cracks, but doesn't usually break completely. This injury, known as atypical femoral fracture, can cause pain in the thigh or groin that begins subtly and may gradually worsen. It can sometimes develop in both legs at once. Bisphosphonates also have the potential to affect the jawbone. Osteonecrosis of the jaw is a rare condition in which a section of jawbone dies and deteriorates. This occurs primarily in people who take very large doses of the medication by vein (intravenously) much larger than the doses typically used for osteoporosis because they have cancer in their bones. In these individuals, a small number have poor healing of the jawbone after a dental extraction or other trauma to the jaw. How long should you take a bisphosphonate for osteoporosis treatment? Up to five years of treatment with bisphosphonates is safe and effective. The scientific literature is full of good studies of all the bisphosphonate medications that prove their safety and show their effectiveness at preventing fractures of the hip and spine for up to three to five years. Beyond five years of treatment, there's less certainty. There just haven't been many long-term studies done. One thing that is known, though, is that even if you stop taking the medication, its positive effects can persist. That's because after taking a bisphosphonate for a period of time, you build up the medicine in your bone. Because of this lingering effect, some experts believe it's reasonable for women who are doing well on treatment those who have not broken any bones and are maintaining bone density to consider taking a holiday from their bisphosphonate after taking it for five years. But if you're at high risk of fractures or you have very low bone density, taking a break from your osteoporosis medication may not be a good idea. What happens if you experience a broken bone while taking an osteoporosis medication? Osteoporosis medications lower the chance of fracture, but they don't eliminate all risk of breaking a bone. If you have a fracture while on treatment, your doctor will reassess you to check for other problems that may have contributed to the broken bone. Depending on the outcome of that assessment, you may be a candidate to switch to a more aggressive bone-building therapy such as parathyroid hormone, manufactured as teriparatide (Forteo). This treatment is typically reserved for women who are at very high risk those with very low bone density or who have had fractures. Teriparatide has the potential to rebuild bone and actually reverse osteoporosis, at least somewhat. Another option might be to switch to a newer type of osteoporosis drug called denosumab (Prolia, Xgeva). Denosumab produces similar or better results, compared with bisphosphonates, but works in a different way. It's delivered via a shot under the skin every six months. Can medication alone successfully treat osteoporosis? Don't rely entirely on medication as the only treatment for your osteoporosis. These practices also are important: Exercise. Weight-bearing physical activity strengthens bones and improves your balance. The more active and fit you are as you age, the less likely you are to fall and break a bone.Good nutrition. Eat a healthy diet and make certain that you're getting enough calcium and vitamin D. Being underweight or losing a lot of weight unintentionally is associated with poorer bone health and a higher risk of fracture even if you're taking a bisphosphonate.Quit smoking. Smoking cigarettes speeds up bone loss.Limit alcohol. If you drink alcohol, consider limiting it to one drink a day or less, on average, for optimal health. How Can I Prevent Falls? Men and women with osteoporosis need to take care not to fall down. Falls can break bones. Some reasons people fall are: Poor vision. Poor balance. Certain diseases that affect how you walk. Some types of medicine, such as sleeping pills. Some tips to help prevent falls outdoors are: Use a cane or walker. Wear rubber-soled shoes so you don't slip. Walk on grass when sidewalks are slippery. In winter, put salt or kitty litter on icy sidewalks. Some ways to help prevent falls indoors are: Keep rooms free of clutter, especially on floors. Use plastic or carpet runners on slippery floors Wear low-heeled shoes that provide good support Do not walk in socks, stockings, or slippers. Be sure carpets and area rugs have skid-proof backs or are tacked to the floor. Be sure stairs are well lit and have rails on both sides. Put grab bars on bathroom walls near tub, shower, and toilet. Use a rubber bath mat in the shower or tub. Keep a flashlight next to your bed. Use a sturdy step stool with a handrail and wide steps. Add more lights in rooms. |