Osteoporosis: The silent thief

Osteoporosis (also known as brittle bone disease) makes bones brittle and weak. The issue is that osteoporosis often has no symptoms and is discovered only after a quick twist or sudden fall results in broken bones or severe pain.

Typically, our bones regenerate, so new bone cells replace the old. With osteoporosis, you can either lose bone mass too quickly or not rebuild bone mass fast enough to keep up with what is lost — sometimes both. All of this can happen without the person experiencing osteoporosis ever feeling a thing. In fact, the U.S. surgeon general has identified osteoporosis as a major public health issue, because many people are not diagnosed with osteoporosis until they’ve had their first fracture.

“It’s important to know if you are at risk for osteoporosis or other bone diseases,” said Robin G. Curry, M.D., orthopedic sports medicine physician with Norton Orthopedic Institute. “If we can identify and care for people who might be at risk before they fall or break a bone, we can make a difference in staving off the effects of osteoporosis.”

Osteoporosis facts

• Approximately half of women and 1 in 4 men over age 50 will break a bone from osteoporosis. 
• A women’s risk of breaking a hip is equal to her combined risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer. 
• Men ages 50 and older are more likely to break a bone due to osteoporosis than they are to get prostate cancer. 
• One in 4 women and 1 in 3 men who have a hip fracture will die within a year of the fracture. 
• Approximately 54 million people in the U.S. have osteoporosis.

Am I at risk for osteoporosis?

• Age: Risk increases with age. 
• Gender: Osteoporosis affects more women than men. 
• Family history: If one of your parents had osteoporosis, you’re more likely to get it. 
• Menopause: Estrogen helps maintain bone mass. When estrogen levels drop at menopause, bones may be at risk. 
• Smoking: Tobacco is toxic to your bones. If you smoke, get help to stop.

Can I prevent osteoporosis?

There is no cure for osteoporosis, but there are things you can do to lower your risk and potentially keep the symptoms of osteoporosis at bay.

• Get enough calcium. The Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF) recommends 1,200 milligrams (in divided doses) daily. There are about 300 milligrams in 1 cup of milk. 
• Get adequate vitamin D. It’s needed to absorb calcium from the digestive system into the bloodstream. The BHOF recommends 800 to 1,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D per day. Your body will produce enough vitamin D from about 10 minutes in sunshine. Vitamin D is also available as a dietary supplement. 
• Exercise. This is one of the best ways to preserve bone density. Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, dancing and using a stationary bike, are great ways to build and maintain bone mass. Exercise most days of the week. 
• Prevent falls. Wear shoes with good traction. Be careful stepping up or down on curbs. Use night lights. Wear house shoes or slippers with rubber soles rather than walking around in socks or barefoot. Use a rubber mat in the shower or tub. 
• Talk to your health care provider about other ways to ensure your bones stay strong and healthy.

“There are tests we can do to see how healthy your bones are, and there are medicines and supplements we can have you take to prevent or manage osteoporosis,” Dr. Curry said. Norton Healthcare also participates in Own the Bone through a robust bone health program for the community.

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Bones in your 40s

By the time you are in your 40s you’ve reached peak bone density, and bone loss begins to exceed the rate of bone formation. While you can’t regain full bone mass, you can slow the decline.

Bone health is important for everyone, but people assigned female at birth have a few extra considerations to keep in mind, including the tendency to have smaller bones than people assigned male at birth. A decrease in the hormone estrogen can cause bone loss, which in turn can trigger osteoporosis (brittle bones). And people experiencing menopause should be extra careful as hormonal shifts and lifestyle choices can contribute to osteoporosis or other bone health issues.

The most at-risk group for osteoporosis is white people assigned female at birth. Other risk factors include smoking, a family history of bone conditions, and eating disorders, even in your younger years.

Bone health tips

1. Calcium and vitamin D – Ask your doctor to check your calcium and vitamin D levels. They may tell you to take a supplement or add different foods to your diet. Dietary vitamins are best, but sometimes more is needed to keep us healthy.
2. Exercise – Weight-bearing exercises like walking and lifting weights are excellent for bone health. Aim for 30 minutes a day at least three to four times per week.
3. Quit smoking – Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your overall health, and it can slow the loss of bone mass.

Talk to your doctor

Talking with your regular doctor can help you stop age-related bone loss. They can prescribe medicines, order tests and help you make a plan to keep your bones in top shape for as long as possible. You can also see a specialist in orthopedics.

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