Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by loss of bone density, resulting in brittle bones which are more susceptible to breaking.

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by loss of bone density, resulting in brittle bones which are more susceptible to breaking. This debilitating disease can progress silently for years until a bone breaks. The most common places where these fractures occur are the hips, spine and wrists.

There are many factors that determine who will develop osteoporosis. The first step in prevention is to determine whether you are at risk, since not everyone is. The risk factors are:

Age. The older you are, the greater your risk of osteoporosis. Your bones become weaker and less dense as you age.

Gender. Your chances of developing osteoporosis are greater if you are a woman. Women have less bone tissue and lose bone more rapidly than men because of the changes involved in menopause.

Family History and Personal History of Fractures as an Adult. Susceptibility to fracture may be, in part, hereditary. Young women whose mothers have a history of vertebral fractures also seem to have reduced bone mass. A personal history of a fracture as an adult also increases your fracture risk.

Race. Caucasian and Asian women are more likely to develop osteoporosis. However, African American and Hispanic women are at significant risk for developing the disease.

Bone Structure and Body Weight. Small-boned and thin women (under 127 pounds) are at greater risk.

Menopause/Menstrual History. Normal or early menopause (brought about naturally or because of surgery) increases your risk of developing osteoporosis. In addition, women who stop menstruating before menopause because of conditions such as anorexia or bulimia, or because of excessive physical exercise, may also lose bone tissue and develop osteoporosis.

Lifestyle. Current cigarette smoking, drinking too much alcohol, consuming an inadequate amount of calcium or getting little or no weight-bearing exercise, increases your chances of developing osteoporosis.

Medications/Chronic Diseases. A significant and often overlooked risk factor in the development of osteoporosis is the use of certain medications to treat chronic medical conditions. Medications to treat disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, endocrine disorders (i.e. an under-active thyroid), seizure disorders and gastrointestinal diseases may have side effects that can damage bone and lead to osteoporosis.

It is important to take action now to find out your risk for developing osteoporosis. Your doctor can help you determine whether you should have a bone density screening or BMD test. Your doctor may order a BMD test for:

• all postmenopausal women under age 65 who have one or more additional risk factors for osteoporosis (in addition to being postmenopausal and female)
• all women age 65 and older regardless of additional risk factors
  postmenopausal women who present with fractures (to confirm diagnosis and determine disease severity).
• women who are considering therapy for osteoporosis if BMD testing would facilitate the decision.

Osteoporosis Facts & Figures

Did you Know?

• Osteoporosis is a major public health threat for 44 million Americans, 68% of whom are women.
• Osteoporosis can strike at any age.
• In the U.S. today, 10 million people already have osteoporosis and 34 million more have low bone mass.
• One out of every two women and one in four men over 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime.
• More than 2 million American men suffer from osteoporosis, and millions more are at risk.
• Each year, 80,000 men have a hip fracture and one-third of these men die within one year.
• Estimated national direct expenditures for osteoporosis and related fractures total $14 billion each year.
• Osteoporosis is also responsible for more than 1.5 million U.S. fractures annually, including:
  • 300,000 hip fractures
  • 700,000 vertebral (spine) fractures
  • 250,000 wrist fractures
  • more than 300,000 fractures at other sites