OSTEOPOROSIS

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OSTEOPOROSIS

• By Craig Picciafoco

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What is Osteoporosis?

• Osteoporosis literally means porous bones
• Osteoporosis is a progressive disease which
  results in bones becoming weaker and more
  susceptible to fractions.

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Risk Factors
Lifestyle / Environmental Factors

• Calcium deficient diet over a lifetime
• Lack of exercise
• Excess alcohol intake
• Cigarette smoking
• Excess animal protein intake

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Lifestyle/Environmental Factors Cont.

• Caffeine abuse
• Excess dietary sodium
• Vitamin D deficiency, Lack of sunlight
• Altered vitamin D receptor function caused by
  poor lifestyle

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Hormonal Factors

• Lack of estrogen, women (progesterone and
  testosterone, men)
• Early menopause due to surgery or spontaneous
  occurrence
• Late onset of periods
• Women without children
• Andropause, hypogonadism,
• and low testosterone

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Hereditary Factors

• More common in females
• More common in Caucasians and Asians than
  Africans
• Family history of osteoporosis
• Small body build
• Specific genetic defects

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Exercise

• Bone becomes stronger and denser the more demand
  is placed on it
• Weight-bearing and resistance exercises are
  important to building and maintaining bone mass
• Weight-bearing exercises Jogging, walking, stair
  climbing and dancing
• Resistance exercises Weight lifting

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Questions to ask Your Doctor

• How do I best prevent osteoporosis?
• How do I know if my bone density is low?
• How much calcium is right for me?
• Am I currently taking any medication that puts me
  at a higher risk for developing osteoporosis?

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Questions to ask if your Doctor believes you are
at high risk

• What medications are available to help me?
• What are the benefits/side effects of these
  medications? Will these medications interact
  with other medications I am already taking for
  other conditions?
• How do I know if my prevention or treatment
  program is effective?

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Symptoms

• May not always be noticeable
• Back pain
• Loss of height over time
• Stooped posture
• Fracture of vertebrae, wrist, hip, or other bones

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Diagnosing

• Usually diagnosed by a doctor using a combination
  of techniques.
• Complete medical history and physical exam
• Skeletal X-rays
• Bone densitometry
• If the doctor finds that you have low bone
  density, then they will perform additional tests
  to rule out other diseases.

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Organizations

• FORE (Foundation for Osteoporosis Research and
  Education)
• NOF (National Osteoporosis Foundation)
• IOF (International Osteoporosis Foundation)