Osteoporosis: Are You at Risk?


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Osteoporosis: Are You at Risk?


Osteoporosis makes you more likely to break bones because you lose bone mass and density. You may not have any symptoms or pain. The first sign might be a bone fracture.
Things that make osteoporosis more likely include:
Age. Your bone density peaks around age 30. After that, you’ll begin to lose bone mass. So that’s all the more reason to do strength training and weight-bearing exercise -- and make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D from your diet -- to keep your bones as strong as possible as you get older.
Gender. Women over the age of 50 are the most likely people to develop osteoporosis. The condition is 4 times as likely in women than men. Women's lighter, thinner bones and longer life spans are part of the reason they have a higher risk. Men can get osteoporosis, too -- it’s just less common.
Family history. If your parents or grandparents have had any signs of osteoporosis, such as a fractured hip after a minor fall, you may be more likely to get it, too.
Bone structure and body weight. Petite and thin women have a greater chance of developing osteoporosis. One reason is that they have less bone to lose than women with more body weight and larger frames. Similarly, small-boned, thin men are at greater risk than men with larger frames and more body weight.
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Broken bones. If you’ve had fractures before, your bones may not be as strong.
Ethnicity. Research shows that Caucasian and Asian women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than women of other ethnic backgrounds. Hip fractures are also twice as likely to happen in Caucasian women as in African-American women.
Certain diseases. Some diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis raise the odds that you’ll get osteoporosis.
Some medications. Certain prescription medications -- for example, if you take steroids such as prednisone for a long time -- can also boost your odds of getting osteoporosis.
Smoking. It’s bad for your bones. To lower your risk of osteoporosis and fractures -- and many other health problems -- work with your doctor to kick this habit ASAP.
Alcohol. Heavy drinking can lead to thinning of the bones and make fractures more likely.

WebMD Medical Reference
 Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD on October 23, 2016

Sources

© 2016 WebMD, LLC. 

Your Risk for Osteoporosis and Bone Fractures

By Rachel Reiff Ellis

When Pam Roe, 66, went to her doctors a few years ago with back pain, they told her she had a vertebral fracture. But they also discovered the hidden cause behind her cracked backbone: osteoporosis.
Although osteoporosis runs in her family, Roe says she found out her diagnosis was likely also caused by medication she was taking. "I had been on a very high dose of prednisone for almost 2 years to treat an autoimmune disease," she says. Those steroid treatments, along with her age, gender, and family history, put Roe at high risk of getting the disease -- and breaking bones.

Who Gets It and Why
Osteoporosis happens when your body starts losing bone, doesn't make enough bone, or both. It causes weak bones that break easily, especially after a fall.
"There's often nothing wrong with the bone -- there's just too little of it," says Susan L. Greenspan, MD, director of the Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Center and the Bone Health Program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "Imagine a stool that only has two legs instead of four. It's much easier to break."
You lose bone as you age, so the older you are, the more likely you are to get osteoporosis, especially if you're a woman. "After age 50, one out of every two women and one out of five men will fracture a bone," Greenspan says.


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And once you've broken a bone, you're much more likely to break another one in the future. Roe's fractures didn't stop with her broken vertebrae. "I've had another vertebral fracture, a hip broken in two places, and broken bones in my hand and both feet," she says.
Besides your age, gender, and past broken bones, there are other things that raise your risk of getting osteoporosis, like:
 
  • Family history of the disease, or a mother or father with a hip fracture
  • Conditions like overactive thyroid condition, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, lung diseases, and Parkinson's disease
  • Medications like steroids, heartburn medicine, seizure drugs, or breast and prostate cancer medications
  • Early menopause
  • Lack of exercise
  • Too thin
  • Not enough calcium or vitamin D
  • Don't eat enough fruits and veggies
  • Smoking
  • Have too much protein, sodium, caffeine, or alcohol
Even if one or more of these things are true for you, it doesn't mean you'll get the disease. But it does mean you should keep a close eye on your bone health and take steps to keep your bones strong.
"The good news is there are lifestyle changes and medications that reduce the risk of fractures and keep you active and standing tall," Greenspan says.

How to Check Your Bone Health
Your doctor has several tools to help monitor how your bones are doing. In addition to your medical history and an exam, she can also use certain tests to measure the density of your bones. Most commonly, doctors use a bone density test, or DEXA.
"The bone density lets the health care provider know if the bone is normal, on the way to osteoporosis, or osteoporotic," Greenspan says. "It's easy, comfortable, and low radiation."
Doctors recommend regular bone density scans for women starting at age 65, and for men starting at age 70. Or you may have one sooner if you have things that may raise your chances of osteoporosis, such as:
  • Breaking a bone after age 50
  • Back pain
  • Height loss of 1/2 inch in a year
  • Height loss of 1 and 1/2 inches from your original height
If you're on medication for osteoporosis, your doctor will likely recommend you have a bone density test every 1 to 2 years.
Once your doctor has your bone density information, she can use it to do an osteoporosis risk assessment test, or FRAX. The test scores can help you learn how likely it is you'll break a bone in the next 10 years.

Are You At Risk?


There are a variety of factors – both controllable and uncontrollable – that put you at risk for developing osteoporosis. It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about your risk factors for osteoporosis and together you can develop a plan to protect your bones.
A woman’s risk of breaking a hip due to osteoporosis is equal to her risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer combined. And a man age 50 or older is more likely to break a bone due to osteoporosis than he is to get prostate cancer.

Uncontrollable Risk Factors
·        Being over age 50.
·        Being female.
·        Menopause.
·        Family history of osteoporosis.
·        Low body weight/being small and thin.
·        Broken bones or height loss.
Controllable Risk Factors
·        Not getting enough calcium and vitamin D.
·        Not eating enough fruits and vegetables.
·        Getting too much protein, sodium and caffeine.
·        Having an inactive lifestyle.
·        Smoking.
·        Drinking too much alcohol.
·        Losing weight.

What Women Need to Know


Being female puts you at risk of developing osteoporosis and broken bones. Here are some facts:
·        Of the estimated 10 million Americans with osteoporosis, about eight million or 80% are women.
·        Approximately one in two women over age 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis.
·        A woman’s risk of breaking a hip is equal to her combined risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer.
There are multiple reasons why women are more likely to get osteoporosis than men, including:
o   Women tend to have smaller, thinner bones than men.
o   Estrogen, a hormone in women that protects bones, decreases sharply when women reach menopause, which can cause bone loss. This is why the chance of developing osteoporosis increases as women reach menopause.

Now the good news:

People used to think that osteoporosis was an inevitable part of aging. Today we know a lot more about how to prevent, detect, and treat the disease. You are never too young or old to take care of your bones. Good lifestyle habits can help you protect your bones and decrease your chance of getting osteoporosis. And, if your healthcare provider hasn’t talked to you about your bone health, it’s time for you to bring it up!

What’s Your Risk?

Caucasian Women

·        Twenty percent of Caucasian women age 50 and older are estimated to have osteoporosis.
·        More than half of all Caucasian women age 50 and older are estimated to have low bone mass, which means their bones are getting weaker but they don’t yet have osteoporosis.
·        Between the ages of 20 and 80, Caucasian women lose one-third of the bone mineral density in their hip.
·        About 15 percent of Caucasians are lactose intolerant, which can make it difficult to get enough calcium.

African-American Women

·        Five percent of African American women older than 50 are estimated to have osteoporosis.
·        Another 35 percent are estimated to have low bone mass, which means their bones are getting weaker but they don’t yet have osteoporosis.
·        Recent research shows that even among African American women who do have risk factors for osteoporosis, few are screened for the disease.
·        About 70 percent of African Americans are lactose intolerant, which can make it difficult to get enough calcium.
·        Many African American women don’t get enough vitamin D, which can make it hard for the body to absorb calcium.
In the United States, African American women are more likely than many other racial or ethnic groups to have diseases that can lead to osteoporosis, such as lupus.

Asian-American Women

·        About 20 percent of Asian American women age 50 and older are estimated to have osteoporosis.
·        More than half of all Asian American women age 50 and older are estimated to have low bone density, which means their bones are getting weaker but they don’t yet have osteoporosis.
·        About 90 percent of Asian American adults are lactose intolerant, which can make it difficult to get enough calcium.

Latina Women

·        Ten percent of Latinas have osteoporosis.
·        Half of all Latinas older than 50 have low bone mass, which means their bones are getting weaker but they don’t yet have osteoporosis.
·        Many Latinas are lactose intolerant, which can make it difficult to get enough calcium.
·        Hip fractures among Latinas in the United States appear to be on the rise.

Menopause: A Time for Action

When a woman reaches menopause, her estrogen levels drop and can lead to bone loss. For some women, this bone loss is rapid and severe.
Two major factors that affect your chance of getting osteoporosis are:
·        The amount of bone you have when you reach menopause. The greater your bone density is to begin with, the lower your chance of developing osteoporosis. If you had low peak bone mass or other risk factors that caused you to lose bone, your chance of getting osteoporosis is greater.
·        How fast you lose bone after you reach menopause. For some women, bone loss happens faster than for others. In fact, a woman can lose up to 20% of her bone density during the five – seven years following menopause. If you lose bone quickly, you have a greater chance of developing osteoporosis.

What about taking estrogen?

If you have menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, your healthcare provider may prescribe estrogen therapy (ET) or estrogen with progesterone hormone therapy (HT).  In addition to controlling your menopausal symptoms, these therapies can also help prevent bone loss. Some women are advised not to take ET or HT because of the possible risks that may include breast cancer, strokes, heart attacks, blood clots and cognitive (mental) decline. It’s important to discuss the risks and benefits of your treatment options with your healthcare provider.
For more comprehensive information, download NOF’s resource Hormones and Healthy Bones

Teens: What YOU Can Do Now

Osteoporosis is the disease that is most likely to cause weak bones. It is more common in older people, especially women. But it is doesn’t have to happen to YOU when you get older. That’s because, for many people, osteoporosis can be prevented.
Most people don’t have the opportunity that you have right now: YOU can actually build denser, stronger bones now in a way that isn’t possible later. This will make you healthier, and it will set you up to have stronger bones when you are older – when weak bones can be serious.
The recipe for bone health is simple:
·        Get enough calcium and vitamin D, and eat a well balanced diet. Read more about balancing your diet
·        Exercise – Read more about exercise
·        Don’t smoke or drink

Eating Disorders and Other Warning Signs

The eating disorders anorexia and bulimia can weaken your bones and increase your risk of osteoporosis when you are older. If you have anorexia you become very thin, but you don’t eat enough because you think you are fat. Bulimia involves periods of overeating followed by purging, sometimes through vomiting or using laxatives.
You should talk to a parent, doctor, or health professional immediately if you have one of these disorders or if you stop getting your period for more than three months in a row (and you are not pregnant). This is a condition called amenorrhea and it is also bad for your bones.

Young Adult Women

While osteoporosis is most common in older people, it sometimes affects young people, including premenopausal women in their 20s, 30s and 40s. The term “premenopausal” refers to women who are still having regular menstrual periods and have not yet reached menopause. While it is uncommon for premenopausal women to have osteoporosis, some young women have low bone density which increases their chance of getting osteoporosis later in life.

Low Bone Density and Osteoporosis in Young Adult Women

Young women who have low bone density, often caused by low peak bone mass, are at an increased risk of getting osteoporosis later in life.
Often, when premenopausal women have osteoporosis, it may be due to an underlying medical condition or a medicine that causes bone loss. Osteoporosis that is caused by a medical condition or a medicine is called secondary osteoporosis. Sometimes premenopausal women have osteoporosis for no known reason. This is called idiopathic osteoporosis. The term “idiopathic” just means that the osteoporosis is unexplained and we cannot find a cause for it.

Diagnosing Osteoporosis in Young Women

Diagnosing osteoporosis in premenopausal women is not straightforward and can be quite complicated. First of all, bone density tests (jump link to below) are not routinely recommended for young women. Here are some reasons why:
·        Most premenopausal women with low bone density do not have an increased risk of breaking a bone in the near future. Therefore, having information about their bone density may only cause unnecessary worry and expense.
·        Some premenopausal women have low bone density because their genes (family history) caused them to have low peak bone mass. Nothing can or should be done to change this.
·        DXA tests can underestimate bone density in women who are small and thin. Therefore, a DXA test may indicate that a small person has low bone density, but the bone density is actually normal for the person’s body size
·        Osteoporosis medicines are not approved or advised for most premenopausal women. Bone density tests are used to help guide decisions about treatment.
Diagnosing osteoporosis in young women usually involves several steps. While these steps may differ for each person, they may include:
·        Your medical history
·        Physical exam
·        Bone mineral density (bone density) testing
·        Lab  tests
·        X-rays
Bone density testing. A bone density test shows the amount of bone a person has in the hip, spine or other bones. It is routinely recommended for postmenopausal women and men age 50 and older and is how osteoporosis is diagnosed in older people. Bone density tests are usually only done for premenopausal women if they break several bones easily or break bones that are unusual for their age, such as bones in the hip or spine. Also, if you have a condition or take a medicine that causes secondary osteoporosis, your healthcare provider may order a bone density test. This test should be done on a DXA machine. DXA stands for dual energy x-ray absorptiometry.
One or two years after an initial bone density test,  a second bone density may be done and  will determine if you have low peak bone mass that is staying the same or if you are losing bone. If your bone density drops significantly between the first and second test, you may be losing bone and further evaluation by a healthcare provider is needed.

Understanding your bone density test results

A bone density test result shows a Z-score and a T-score. T-scores are used to diagnose osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and men age 50 and older, but not in premenopausal women. A Z-score compares your bone density to what is normal for someone your age. While a Z-score alone is not used to diagnose osteoporosis in premenopausal women, it can provide important information. Read some tips to help you understand your Z-score.
·        If your Z-score is above -2.0, your bone density is considered within the ranges expected for your age or normal according to the International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD). For example, a Z-score of +0.5, -0.5 and -1.5 is considered normal for most premenopausal women.
·        If your Z-score is -2.0 or lower, your bone density is considered below the expected range. Examples are -2.1, -2.3 and -2.5. If your Z-score is in this range, your healthcare provider will consider your health history and possible causes of bone loss, including secondary osteoporosis, before making a diagnosis of osteoporosis.
·        If your Z-score is normal, but you’ve broken one or more bones from a minor injury, your healthcare provider may diagnose you with osteoporosis because some people with normal bone density break bones easily. As mentioned above, a bone density test will also show a T-score. A T-score compares bone density to what is normal in a healthy 30-year-old adult.

Treating Osteoporosis in Young Women

Most of the osteoporosis medicines available at this time are not approved by the FDA for use in premenopausal women. But, for women who have taken steroid medicines for a long time, three osteoporosis medicines are approved for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. In very rare cases, a healthcare provider may recommend that a premenopausal woman consider taking an osteoporosis medicine for other reasons. Examples include when a woman breaks a bone because of low bone density or has severe bone loss due to a medical condition.

Expecting Women

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, be sure to get enough calcium and vitamin D. Calcium and vitamin D are good for you and for your baby’s growing bones. If you don’t get enough of these nutrients, your baby’s calcium needs will be met by taking calcium from your bones.
Most studies show that while some bone loss may occur during pregnancy, a woman usually regains it after giving birth. In fact, studies show that having children, even as many as 10, does not increase a woman’s chance of getting osteoporosis later in life. Research even suggests that each additional pregnancy provides some protection from osteoporosis and broken bones.

Pregnancy-associated osteoporosis.

Some women develop a temporary type of osteoporosis during pregnancy. While we do not fully understand what causes this type of osteoporosis, it is extremely rare and usually goes away shortly after a woman gives birth.

Breast feeding.

Like pregnancy, breastfeeding may cause some temporary bone loss. However, bone density appears to recover over time and should not cause long-term harm to a woman’s bone health. All women who are pregnant or nursing need to get enough calcium, vitamin D and appropriate exercise to keep their bones healthy. If you’re breastfeeding exclusively, ask your child’s pediatrician if you need to give your baby supplemental vitamin D.

Osteoporosis


Overview

Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle — so brittle that a fall or even mild stresses such as bending over or coughing can cause a fracture. Osteoporosis-related fractures most commonly occur in the hip, wrist or spine.
Bone is living tissue that is constantly being broken down and replaced. Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone doesn't keep up with the removal of old bone.
Osteoporosis affects men and women of all races. But white and Asian women — especially older women who are past menopause — are at highest risk. Medications, healthy diet and weight-bearing exercise can help prevent bone loss or strengthen already weak bones.

Symptoms

There typically are no symptoms in the early stages of bone loss. But once your bones have been weakened by osteoporosis, you may have signs and symptoms that include:
·        Back pain, caused by a fractured or collapsed vertebra
·        Loss of height over time
·        A stooped posture
·        A bone fracture that occurs much more easily than expected

When to see a doctor

You may want to talk to your doctor about osteoporosis if you went through early menopause or took corticosteroids for several months at a time, or if either of your parents had hip fractures.

·        Comparing the interior of a healthy bone with one that has become porous from osteoporosis

Osteoporosis weakens bone

Your bones are in a constant state of renewal — new bone is made and old bone is broken down. When you're young, your body makes new bone faster than it breaks down old bone and your bone mass increases. Most people reach their peak bone mass by their early 20s. As people age, bone mass is lost faster than it's created.
How likely you are to develop osteoporosis depends partly on how much bone mass you attained in your youth. The higher your peak bone mass, the more bone you have "in the bank" and the less likely you are to develop osteoporosis as you age.

Risk factors

A number of factors can increase the likelihood that you'll develop osteoporosis — including your age, race, lifestyle choices, and medical conditions and treatments.

Unchangeable risks

Some risk factors for osteoporosis are out of your control, including:
·        Your sex. Women are much more likely to develop osteoporosis than are men.
·        Age. The older you get, the greater your risk of osteoporosis.
·        Race. You're at greatest risk of osteoporosis if you're white or of Asian descent.
·        Family history. Having a parent or sibling with osteoporosis puts you at greater risk, especially if your mother or father experienced a hip fracture.
·        Body frame size. Men and women who have small body frames tend to have a higher risk because they may have less bone mass to draw from as they age.

Hormone levels

Osteoporosis is more common in people who have too much or too little of certain hormones in their bodies. Examples include:
·        Sex hormones. Lowered sex hormone levels tend to weaken bone. The reduction of estrogen levels in women at menopause is one of the strongest risk factors for developing osteoporosis. Men experience a gradual reduction in testosterone levels as they age. Treatments for prostate cancer that reduce testosterone levels in men and treatments for breast cancer that reduce estrogen levels in women are likely to accelerate bone loss.
·        Thyroid problems. Too much thyroid hormone can cause bone loss. This can occur if your thyroid is overactive or if you take too much thyroid hormone medication to treat an underactive thyroid.
·        Other glands. Osteoporosis has also been associated with overactive parathyroid and adrenal glands.

Dietary factors

Osteoporosis is more likely to occur in people who have:
·        Low calcium intake. A lifelong lack of calcium plays a role in the development of osteoporosis. Low calcium intake contributes to diminished bone density, early bone loss and an increased risk of fractures.
·        Eating disorders. Severely restricting food intake and being underweight weakens bone in both men and women.
·        Gastrointestinal surgery. Surgery to reduce the size of your stomach or to remove part of the intestine limits the amount of surface area available to absorb nutrients, including calcium.
Steroids and other medications
Long-term use of oral or injected corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone and cortisone, interferes with the bone-rebuilding process. Osteoporosis has also been associated with medications used to combat or prevent:
·        Seizures
·        Gastric reflux
·        Cancer
·        Transplant rejection

Medical conditions

The risk of osteoporosis is higher in people who have certain medical problems, including:
·        Celiac disease
·        Inflammatory bowel disease
·        Kidney or liver disease
·        Cancer
·        Lupus
·        Multiple myeloma
·        Rheumatoid arthritis
Lifestyle choices
Some bad habits can increase your risk of osteoporosis. Examples include:
·        Sedentary lifestyle. People who spend a lot of time sitting have a higher risk of osteoporosis than do those who are more active. Any weight-bearing exercise and activities that promote balance and good posture are beneficial for your bones, but walking, running, jumping, dancing and weightlifting seem particularly helpful.
·        Excessive alcohol consumption. Regular consumption of more than two alcoholic drinks a day increases your risk of osteoporosis.
·        Tobacco use. The exact role tobacco plays in osteoporosis isn't clearly understood, but it has been shown that tobacco use contributes to weak bones.

Complications

·        How osteoporosis can cause vertebrae to crumple and collapse.

Compression fractures

Bone fractures, particularly in the spine or hip, are the most serious complication of osteoporosis. Hip fractures often are caused by a fall and can result in disability and even an increased risk of death within the first year after the injury.
In some cases, spinal fractures can occur even if you haven't fallen. The bones that make up your spine (vertebrae) can weaken to the point that they may crumple, which can result in back pain, lost height and a hunched forward posture.

Prevention

Good nutrition and regular exercise are essential for keeping your bones healthy throughout your life.

Protein

Protein is one of the building blocks of bone. And while most people get plenty of protein in their diets, some do not. Vegetarians and vegans can get enough protein in the diet if they intentionally seek suitable sources, such as soy, nuts, legumes, and dairy and eggs if allowed. Older adults may also eat less protein for various reasons. Protein supplementation is an option.

Body weight

Being underweight increases the chance of bone loss and fractures. Excess weight is now known to increase the risk of fractures in your arm and wrist. As such, maintaining an appropriate body weight is good for bones just as it is for health in general.

Calcium

Men and women between the ages of 18 and 50 need 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day. This daily amount increases to 1,200 milligrams when women turn 50 and men turn 70. Good sources of calcium include:
·        Low-fat dairy products
·        Dark green leafy vegetables
·        Canned salmon or sardines with bones
·        Soy products, such as tofu
·        Calcium-fortified cereals and orange juice
If you find it difficult to get enough calcium from your diet, consider taking calcium supplements. However, too much calcium has been linked to kidney stones. Although yet unclear, some experts suggest that too much calcium especially in supplements can increase the risk of heart disease. The Institute of Medicine recommends that total calcium intake, from supplements and diet combined, should be no more than 2,000 milligrams daily for people older than 50.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D improves your body's ability to absorb calcium and improves bone health in other ways. People can get adequate amounts of vitamin D from sunlight, but this may not be a good source if you live in a high latitude, if you're housebound, or if you regularly use sunscreen or avoid the sun entirely because of the risk of skin cancer.
Scientists don't yet know the optimal daily dose of vitamin D for each person. A good starting point for adults is 600 to 800 international units (IU) a day, through food or supplements. For people without other sources of vitamin D and especially with limited sun exposure, a supplement may be needed. Most multivitamin products contain between 600 and 800 IU of vitamin D. Up to 4,000 IU of vitamin D a day is safe for most people.

Exercise

Exercise can help you build strong bones and slow bone loss. Exercise will benefit your bones no matter when you start, but you'll gain the most benefits if you start exercising regularly when you're young and continue to exercise throughout your life.
Combine strength training exercises with weight-bearing and balance exercises. Strength training helps strengthen muscles and bones in your arms and upper spine, and weight-bearing exercises — such as walking, jogging, running, stair climbing, skipping rope, skiing and impact-producing sports — affect mainly the bones in your legs, hips and lower spine. Balance exercises such as tai chi can reduce your risk of falling especially as you get older.
Swimming, cycling and exercising on machines such as elliptical trainers can provide a good cardiovascular workout, but they're not as helpful for improving bone health.






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