What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a thinning of the bones. Normally, the inside of a bone looks like a honeycomb. If you have osteoporosis, the spaces in the honeycomb get larger, and the bone's hard outer shell gets thinner. This makes the bone weaker and it breaks more easily.
You may not know you have osteoporosis until a sudden strain, bump, or fall causes a bone to break. You may start getting shorter or develop severe back pain or a hunched back as bones in your spine get weaker and are pushed closer together.
Am I at risk for osteoporosis?
Women are more likely to get osteoporosis than men because they have less bone mass to begin with and because they lose bone mass after menopause. But men can develop osteoporosis too.
Bone development peaks when you're in your late 20s or early 30s. After that, you start losing bone mass. Other risk factors include:
* being thin and small-boned
* being white or Asian
* having a family member who had osteoporosis
* experiencing menopause or having surgery to remove ovaries before age 45
* smoking
* drinking more than two alcoholic drinks per day
* not getting enough exercise
* not getting enough calcium and vitamin D
* taking certain medications, such as steroids, for more than 3 months
* having certain diseases, such as hyperthyroidism
* breaking a bone as an adult
* having abnormal menstrual periods or skipped periods.
How will my health care provider know I have osteoporosis?
Because signs and symptoms of osteoporosis don't appear until you've lost a great deal of bone mass, all women age 65 and older should have a simple bone density test to screen for osteoporosis. Someone who's at risk for osteoporosis may need a bone density test before age 65. Similar to an X-ray, the bone density test is safe and painless. Your health care provider also may want you to have blood tests or other X-rays before making a diagnosis.
How is osteoporosis treated?
Osteoporosis is treated with diet, exercise, and medicine if needed. If you smoke, stop. Don't drink too much alcohol. To help build and repair bones, make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet through low-fat or fat-free dairy products (such as yogurt and cheese), dried figs, dark-green leafy vegetables, fish, and juices, breads, and cereals with added calcium. If you can't get enough calcium or vitamin D from food, your health care provider may suggest that you take a calcium or vitamin D pill. From ages 9 to 19, people need 1,300 mg of calcium daily; from ages 20 to 50, they need 1,000 mg per day; and after age 51, they need 1,500 mg per day. Getting enough vitamin D is important because it helps you absorb calcium. Children need 400 international units of vitamin D daily; adults need 400 to 800 international units daily; and older adults need 700 to 800 international units daily.
If you're pregnant or breast-feeding a baby, talk to your health care provider about how much calcium and vitamin D you need.
The most common types of calcium supplements are calcium carbonate and calcium citrate. If you use a calcium supplement, don't take more than 500 mg at a time; anything more won't be absorbed. Take calcium carbonate with food because it may cause constipation or gas. Calcium citrate can be taken with or without food and doesn't cause gas. Don't take any type of calcium supplement at the same time as iron or medications that should be taken on an empty stomach.
Avoid carbonated beverages such as soda as well as excess salt, red meat, excess caffeine, and excess alcohol because they can slow or stop your body's absorption of calcium.
Exercise regularly to strengthen your bones and muscles. Ask your health care provider what kind of exercise is best for you. He may suggest muscle-strengthening exercises such as weight machines, or weight-bearing exercises such as walking.
Your health care provider may prescribe medicine to treat your osteoporosis (see How does my osteoporosis medicine help me?). He'll talk with you about which treatment or combination of treatments is best for you.
How can I prevent osteoporosis?
Healthful living habits reduce your risk of osteoporosis. Talk to your health care provider before changing your diet or starting an exercise program.
Take steps to prevent falls and broken bones. If you can't see well, look into getting glasses. If you have trouble walking, use a cane or walker. Wear rubber-soled shoes without heels or with low heels. Keep throw rugs, cords, and clutter off the floor. Keep rooms well lit during the day and leave night lights on at night.
Talk to your health care provider about any other medicines you take. If a medicine (or combination of medicines) makes you sleepy or dizzy, you might trip and fall. Your health care provider may adjust your treatment to help keep you safe.
How does my osteoporosis medicine help me?
Here are common medicines for osteoporosis. Find the one your health care provider gave you, then look across the columns to find out how it helps you and things to look out for. If you have any of the problems listed in the last column, let your health care provider know so he can find a better medicine for you.