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Osteoporosis is called the silent disease because bone
loss occurs without symptoms. "You may not know that your
bones have become porous (not as dense) until a sudden
strain, bump, or fall causes a fracture," says Susan
Johnson, M.D., M.S., UI Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology.
While more than 10 million Americans already have
osteoporosis, another 34 million have low bone mass, the
harbinger of osteoporosis. Of the 10 million who have it,
eight million are women.
Women can lose up to 20 percent of their bone mass in the
five to seven years following menopause.
One in two women and one in four men over the age of 50
will face an osteoporosis-related bone fracture sometime
during their life. According to the National Osteoporosis
Foundation, osteoporosis is responsible for 1.5 million
fractures annually--300,000 hip fractures; 700,000 vertebral
fractures; 250,000 wrist fractures; and 300,000 fractures at
other sites. A woman's risk of fracturing her hip is equal
to her combined risk of breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer.
Are you at risk?
Age: The older you are, the greater your risk. Bones
become weaker and less dense with age.
Gender: The chances of developing osteoporosis are
greater if you are a woman, especially after menopause.
Family history: Susceptibility to fractures may be part
of heredity.
Race: Caucasian and Asian women are more likely to
develop osteoporosis, but African American and Hispanic
women are also vulnerable.
Bone structure and body weight: Small-boned, thin women
(under 125 pounds) are at greater risk.
Anorexia nervosa: Poor nutrition increases your risk.
Lifestyle habits: Include smoking, excessive alcohol use,
low calcium intake, inadequate physical exercise.
Men can,get it, too
Osteoporosis is not just a women's disease. It is a lot
more common in men than most men realize. According to the
National Osteoporosis Foundation, two million American
men have osteoporosis and another 12 million are at risk.
As with women, the best way to diagnose osteoporosis is
with a bone density test.
Family history, being over the age of 50, loss of height,
and unexplained back pain are possible indicators of
osteoporosis in men.
How do you fight osteoporosis?
While there is no cure, it is not an impossible battle.
In fact, there are some simple steps you can take to help
your body maintain or increase the levels of bone mineral
density.
By the age of 20, the average woman has 98 percent of her
body mass. Building strong bones during childhood and
adolescence can be the best deterrent to osteoporosis.
Do you include adequate levels of calcium and Vitamin D
in your diet?
Do you make weight-bearing exercise part of your
routine?
Do you lead a healthy lifestyle, avoiding smoking and
excessive alcohol use?
Have you had a bone density test to determine your risk?
For more information:
Listed above are several Web sites that offer additional
information on this topic. University of Iowa Health Care
does not sponsor or endorse these sites, or guarantee the
accuracy of the information contained on these sites. These
links are here for general information only, and should not
be used for personal diagnosis or treatment. If you have any
questions, please contact UI
Health Access.
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