Osteoporosis
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a condition where the bones become fragile and brittle and fracture (break or crack) more easily than normal bone. Osteoporosis occurs when the bones lose minerals, such as calcium, and thickness resulting in the bones becoming thinner and less dense. As a result, even a minor bump or fall can cause a serious fracture. Half of all women and one third of men over 60 will have a fracture due to osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis and fractures are major causes of injury hospitalisation, long-term disability and even death in older Australians. One fifth of people who suffer a hip fracture will die within six months and of those who don’t die, one half will not be able to walk, bathe and carry out general daily chores without aid and even full-time nursing care.
Osteoporosis is a silent disease. There are usually no signs or symptoms until a fracture occurs. Any bone can be affected by osteoporosis but the most common ones are the bones in the hip, spine, wrist, ribs, pelvis and upper arm.
What are the main risk factors for osteoporosis?
- Having a direct relative who has had an osteoporotic fracture
- Being female
- Being Caucasian or Asian
- Having delayed puberty or early onset of menopause
- Being over 60 years of age
- Having rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease, chronic liver disease, kidney failure or malabsorption syndromes (including inflammatory bowel disease)
- Being a male with low sex hormones levels (testosterone)
- Having had long-term treatment with corticosteroids (eg. asthma, rheumatoid arthritis)
- A diet low in calcium
- An inactive lifestyle/low physical activity levels
- A cigarette smoker
- Excessive alcohol intake
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Having a low body weight or small build
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 Australia with a doctor’s referral.
You may see advertisements for other types of bone density testing, called Heel Ultrasounds. Heel Ultrasound is not the recommended standard test to measure your bone strength and predict your risk of fracture.
Your doctor will also measure your height, because losing 3cm (more than 1 inch) in height can be a signal that you have had a ‘crush’ fracture in your spine (these fractures are sometimes painless, so they can go unnoticed).
How is osteoporosis managed?
There are many things that can be done to reduce your risk of having a fracture if you have osteoporosis:
- Taking action to prevent falls, such as balance exercises, checking eyesight, removing hazards around the home
- Regular appropriate exercise and postural exercises (with advice from a physiotherapist)
- Taking medications to prevent further bone loss
- Getting enough calcium and vitamin D
What can you do to protect your bones and prevent osteoporosis and fractures?
Both men and women can reduce their risk of developing osteoporosis by looking after their bone health in the following ways:
- Eating a healthy diet with an adequate daily calcium intake
- Getting sufficient amounts of vitamin D from foods, sun exposure or supplements (if required)
- Quitting smoking
- Reducing alcohol and coffee intake
- Getting regular exercise, particularly weight bearing activities (walking, tennis, jogging) and strength training
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