Priority Health: Osteoporosis
The process of bone turnover, or bone reabsorption leads to a deficit in the amount of bone your body has. This is a natural process, and depending on how much bone density you had in your 20′s and 30′s, will dictate how quickly your density drops below the average.
The process of bone turnover, or bone reabsorption leads to a deficit in the amount of bone your body has. This is a natural process, and depending on how much bone density you had in your 20′s and 30′s, will dictate how quickly your density drops below the average.
Once your bones are below the average, your are considered to have osteopenia.
Once you cross into the range where you have an increased risk of break, you are considered in osteoporosis. According to the FDA advisory panel who released a report on September 9, 2011, there are some concerns with the current treatment of osteoporosis. Mainly, the drug class that is the mainstay of treatment has been associated with several complications. Further, the experts can not agree on how long it should be used, and even if it is beneficial over time.
There are a number of risk factors for osteoporosis. They are:
- Oral steroids
- Tobacco
- Alcohol – 3 or more per day
- Age – greater than 65
- Medical problems – hypogonadism, hypothyroid, rheumatoid arthritis
- Body – low BMI, low weight, white or Asian race, sedimentary lifestyle
- Diet – low calcium, low Vitamin D
This is one of the medical conditions where being too thin will count against you. But usually, it is because the highest risk people do not exercise, smoke too much, and drink too much. They tend not to eat right, and do not get outside much. This is the perfect combination for osteoporosis.
So, what do you need to do to make sure you aren’t on the path for a serious break?
Every woman should be screened for bone density. Men are less prone to this disease due to testosterone.
Male hormones make the bones thicker and stronger. But, any male with a medical condition that affects hormones like prostate cancer or chronic steroid use due to lung disease, will have an increased risk of osteoporosis.
Male osteoporosis must be treated differently than the typical female postmenopausal osteoporosis.
The treatment for osteoporosis is lifestyle modifications, supplement calcium, estrogen replacement, bisphosphonates and zoledronate.
The serious side effects of treatment are:
- Atypical breaks – femurs
- Osteonecrosis of the jaw
- Esophageal cancer
Some alternatives for prevention are:
- Soy
- Black cohosh
- Dong quai
- Red clover
- Alfalfa
- Licorice root
- Magnesium supplements
- Vitamin K
Prevention is the key. Once you have lost the strength of your bones, it really is hard to repair them. Once a bone is broken, it is never as excellent as it was before it was broken.
