Our Approach
Osteoporosis and low bone mass affect 54 million Americans. It can lead to broken bones and mobility problems, but preventive steps can help you stay active. The Franciscan Health team can assess your risk and prescribe therapies to offer a stronger outlook.
How is osteoporosis treated?
The primary treatment for osteoporosis is engaging in weight-bearing exercises. Walking and weight training put gentle stress on your bones, encouraging them to grow new bone cells and rebuild bone mass.
Medications and supplements can help, too. Eating a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D can prevent or help offset osteoporosis. Your doctor may also prescribe medications that help build bone mass.
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become porous (thin and brittle). Bones that lose mass and strength are more vulnerable to fractures (breaks). Osteopenia, a related condition, occurs when your bones weaken. Osteopenia can lead to osteoporosis.
Because there are no symptoms during the early stages of bone loss, many people don’t realize they have osteoporosis until they experience a painful fracture of the hip, wrist, spine or other bone.
What causes osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis develops when your body loses bone or makes too little bone. A lifelong lack of calcium can cause osteoporosis.
The hormone estrogen protects against bone loss. After menopause (when periods stop), estrogen levels decrease. This puts women over 50 years of age and postmenopausal women at the greatest risk of developing osteoporosis.
How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
Your doctor can diagnose osteoporosis with an exam and diagnostic tests. A bone mineral density test or DEXA scan (dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry) uses small amounts of X-rays to determine the bone density of the spine, hip or wrist.
Doctors often suggest a bone density test for people with multiple osteoporosis risk factors. A DEXA scan can reveal osteoporosis risks for women over age 65 and men over 70.
Who is likely to get osteoporosis?
The likelihood of developing osteoporosis depends partly on how much bone mass your body built in your youth. The higher your peak bone mass, the less likely you are to develop osteoporosis as you age. Risk factors that may increase your likelihood for this disorder include:
- Advanced age
- Being female
- Being of European or Asian descent
- Having a parent or sibling with osteoporosis
- Having a small body frame
Some lifestyle factors may increase your osteoporosis risk, including:
- Diet lacking in calcium and vitamin D
- Inactivity
- More than one to two alcoholic drinks per day
- Tobacco use
People with some medical conditions should consider early screening for osteoporosis. Conditions that can increase the likelihood of developing osteoporosis include:
- Anorexia or bulimia
- Blood diseases such as leukemia, multiple myeloma and sickle cell disease
- Hormone treatment for breast or prostate cancer
- Inflammatory bowel disease or celiac disease
- Organ transplant
- Overactive thyroid, adrenal or parathyroid glands
- Weight loss surgery
Osteoporosis symptoms
Signs and symptoms of osteoporosis may include:
- Back pain caused by a fractured or collapsed vertebra (spine bone)
- Fractures after minor trauma where a fracture would not be anticipated
- Noticeable loss of height over time
- Repeated bone fractures
- Stooped posture
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