Most people don’t care about statistics until they become one. But approximately 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, and another 44 million have low bone density that increases the risk. The importance of regular bone density testing cannot be underestimated, especially for adults over 50 years of age.
Eighty percent of older adults sustaining a broken bone never had a bone density test (BDT) and subsequently were never treated for osteoporosis. A BDT is the best diagnosis. If one’s T-score is –2.5 or lower, chances are that osteoporosis is present and a plan of treatment needs to be developed.
Osteoporosis is called the “silent disease” simply because it’s impossible to know when bones begin to deteriorate. Over time, they can become so brittle that a simple cough or bumping into furniture causes a break. Bone density tests are a vital part of one’s regular healthcare regime and should be repeated at least every two years.
Women are more susceptible to osteoporosis. One in two women will break a bone in their lifespan, and their incidence of breaking a bone is higher than their risk of a heart attack or a stroke — and it’s equal to the combined risk of getting breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer.
Not only is breaking a bone painful, it’s also very costly. The burden on the healthcare system is nearly $20 billion a year and specialists predict a gloomy future — expecting as many as 3 million fractures by 2025, costing patients, families, and the healthcare system as much as $25.3 billion.
Prevention
Bone tissue is constantly being broken down and replaced, and with age the process does not occur as frequently. Peak bone mass is usually achieved by the late 20s, but people can still build and maintain strong bones for the remainder of their lives. Osteoporosis occurs when creating new bone doesn’t keep up with the loss of old bone. Your physician can prescribe medications or other treatment options, but to gain full benefit it’s important to exercise regularly, and be sure to take the recommended amount of calcium and vitamin D obtained from foods and/or supplements.
Symptoms
There are typically no symptoms in the early stages of bone loss. When bones being to weaken, however, one can experience back pain, loss of height, a stooped posture, and bones that break more easily than expected. Women who have experienced early menopause or have taken corticosteroids for several months are highly susceptible to weaker bones. Low sex hormone levels will also weaken bones. A fall in estrogen levels in women at menopause is one of the strongest risk factors in developing osteoporosis. In addition, if a person has taken too much thyroid hormone medication to treat underactive or overactive thyroid conditions or adrenal glands, bone loss is a probability.
Diet
A lack of calcium, eating disorders, and gastrointestinal surgery are issues that can put people in the high-risk category for osteoporosis. A lack of calcium leads to lower bone density, early bone loss, and increases the risk of fractures. Surgery can limit the amount of surface area available to absorb nutrients because the size of the stomach has been reduced.
Medical Conditions
The risk of osteoporosis is higher in people with chronic medical problems. These include celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney or liver disease, cancer, multiple myeloma, or rheumatoid arthritis.
May is National Osteoporosis Awareness Month. It’s an opportunity to be proactive about your health and a great time to make an appointment with a primary-care physician and undergo a painless bone density test. For more information, visit the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation at www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org.