Osteoporosis, meaning porous bones in Latin, is a condition that affects more than 53 million people in the USA. Normal, healthy bones have small honeycomb-like spaces inside of them, when the size of the spaces increases and causes the bone to lose strength and density making them weaker and thinner then you suffer from osteoporosis.
While this condition can occur in people of any age, it’s more common in older adults, especially woman. This condition can make you at a higher risk of bone fractures while doing simple everyday movements, like standing or walking. The ribs, hips, wrists, and spine are the most commonly affected bones.
Most people don’t realize they suffer from osteoporosis until they break a bone, although some mild symptoms include:
- Receding gums
- Weakened grip
- Weak and brittle nails
What causes osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis has been linked to the medical condition hyperthyroidism as well as prolonged use of corticosteroids such as prednisone and cortisone.
Who are the risk factors?
- The biggest and most common is age. As you reach your 30s, your body starts breaking down bone faster than it is replaced leading to less dense bones.
- Menopause causes a change in hormone levels which results in women losing bone quicker than men.
- Caucasians and Asians are at higher risk than other races.
- Poor diet and low physical activity
- Smoking
Is there a treatment?
If you’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis, your doctor will likely prescribe both medication as well as lifestyle changes including increasing both calcium and vitamin D, along with certain exercise. While there is no cure, with proper treatment you can help protect and strengthen your bones.
Some of the best ways to prevent osteoporosis include:
- getting recommended daily amount of calcium and vitamin D
- doing weight-bearing exercises
- stopping smoking
If you’re at risk of developing osteoporosis, talk to your doctor about the best way to prevent it. For more information on osteoporosis, please visit the National Osteoporosis Foundation.