Osteoporosis
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a condition which involves thinning and weakening of bones, it literally means 'porous bones'. Osteoporosis becomes more common with old age and makes bones more fragile and prone to breaking. It often remains undetected until the time of the first broken bone. 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men will suffer a fracture after the age of 50.
What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is sometimes termed the "silent epidemic" as there are no associated symptoms or warning signs prior to fracture. Over 60,000 hip, 50,000 wrist and 120,000 vertebral fractures occur every year in the UK. These are the most common fractures associated with osteoporosis.
Am I at risk of osteoporosis?
There are a number of risk factors associated with osteoporosis:
- Women if they have had an early menopause or hysterectomy (before the age of 45)
- Men with low levels of testosterone
- People who have broken a bone after only minor trauma (called a fragility fracture)
- People who take corticosteroid tablets (for conditions such as asthma or arthritis)
- People with a family history of osteoporosis, particularly if your mother has broken her hip
- People with medical conditions which affect the absorption of foods, such as Crohn's disease, coeliac condition or ulcerative colitis
- People with medical conditions which leave them immobile for a long time
- Excessive smoking and drinking
- Women who are underweight or have developed an eating disorder
I think I might be at risk. Can I be tested for osteoporosis?
Many people may be unaware that they suffer from osteoporosis until they break a bone or start to lose height.
If you think you are at risk then discuss it further with your GP. A special scan which measures bone density, called a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan can be used to diagnose the condition. It is a simple, painless procedure.
Osteoporosis diagnosed on a bone density scan does not always mean you have a high risk of breaking a bone so drug treatment is not always necessary or appropriate. Other factors, such as your age, will need to be taken into account.
Prevention and treatment
Lifestyle interventions which can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis include:
- Weight bearing exercise e.g. walking or jogging
- Eating a healthy diet
- Avoiding smoking
- Reducing alcohol intake
If you have broken a bone because of osteoporosis there are a range of drug treatments. These can help to reduce your risk of breaking another bone.
Drug treatments include:
- Bisphosphonates
- Cacitriol
- Calcitonin
- Calcium and vitamin D
- HRT
- Selective oestrogen receptor modulators (SERMs)
- Strontium ranelate
- Teriparatide
These medicines must be taken long-term. There are a lot of treatment options available including pills, injections and nasal sprays. You should discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each option with your GP so that you get the treatment best suited to you.