Your Questions Answered
What is Osteoporosis?
Your bone is constantly active, balancing reabsorption of old bone and formation of new bone. Bone formation is greater than reabsorption up to age 30. After that, bone is broken down faster than it is reformed. Most of the time this does not cause any problems. After menopause, however, the decreasing amount of estrogen further slows bone formation. The result is bones that are thinner and weaker and more prone to fracture. It is most prominent in the spine, hip, and wrist.
What causes osteoporosis?
A small percentage of patients have other diseases which increase their risk. However, many women have risk factors which might increase their individual risks. The greatest risk factors are: family history of osteoporosis, smoking, menopause, lack of exercise, low body weight, diet low in calcium (lifelong) and the use of certain medications.
Can I prevent it?
Preventive measures can decrease the risk of osteoporosis. The two most effective measures are calcium and exercise. It should be mentioned that maximum bone density is achieved before age 30 and begins to decrease after that age. Exercise does not mean you have to join a gym. Any weight-bearing exercise such as walking will have a positive effect if it is done regularly.
Having a diet with adequate amounts of calcium and Vitamin D will slow bone loss. (Calcium is not very well absorbed unless Vitamin D is present.) A well-balanced diet is best, but the majority of women will probably not get enough calcium from diet alone. This is most true of women who do not include dairy products in their diets. An amount of calcium to strive for is approximately 1500mg. A cup of broccoli contains about 100mg of calcium whereas a cup of skim milk contains about 300mg. There are many supplements to choose from. It’s best to choose one with Vitamin D included, but there is no convincing evidence that any one type of calcium supplement is better than any others.
How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
All women over 65 years of age and younger women with additional risk factors should have bone density testing. This is a painless and very easy test to have and you should discuss this with your practitioner.
Are medications needed?
Medications can stop the bone loss and, in some instances, gradually increase bone density. However, the choice of medications should be based on your individual situation and bone density test. Medications have been shown to decrease the occurrence of fracture even when bone density has stayed the same. Medication does not eliminate the need for exercise and calcium.