What is Osteoporosis?
Your bones are the framework for your body. Bones are not lifeless structures, they’re living tissue. Bone is constantly changing, with bits of old bone being removed to be replaced by new bone. Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease in which more bone is being removed than replaced. This causes the bones to become porous and brittle, and may cause the bones to break easily.

Symptoms of Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is often called the “silent disease” because bone loss occurs without symptoms. People may not know they have this disease until their bones become so weak that a sudden strain, bump, or fall causes a fracture. The most common fractures occur in the back (vertebrae), wrist and hip.

Collapsed vertebrae are the most common fracture. They may initially be felt or seen in the form of severe back pain, loss of height, or spinal deformities such as stooped posture. DEXA Scan of the Spine Specialized tests known as bone mineral densitometry (BMD), can measure density in various sites of the body. A BMD can

• Detect osteoporosis before a fracture occurs
• Predict your chances of fracturing in the future
• Determine your rate of bone loss, and/or monitor the effects of treatment.

Bone mineral density is a simple low dose x-ray exam that can be performed in a matter of minutes.

Risk Factors
Certain people are more likely to develop osteoporosis than others. Factors that increase the likelihood of developing osteoporosis are called “risk factors”. The following have been identified:

Women can lose up to 20% of their bone mass in the 5-7 years following menopause, making them more susceptible to osteoporosis. Prevention
Building strong bones, especially before the age of 30, can be the best defense against developing osteoporosis, and a healthy lifestyle can be critically important for keeping bones strong. So to help prevent osteoporosis:

Treatment & Care
Although there is no cure for osteoporosis, several medications currently are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: estrogen, raloxifene (Evista) and bisphosphonates (Fosamax and Actonel). Calcitonin (Miacalcin) may also be helpful. In addition, Parathyroid Hormone Analogs are expected to be approved soon. These medications slow or stop bone loss, increase bone density, and reduce fracture risk. Many physicians use calcitonin or bisphosphonates for osteoporosis in circumstances other than in postmenopausal women, such as in men who are at risk for osteoporosis and fractures as a result of glucocorticoid therapy.

Other treatments are under investigation.

The National Osteoporosis Foundation does not support the general use of medications in situations other than those for which they are FDA approved.