How to prevent osteoporosis

It should not be inevitable that the ageing process includes shrinking, becoming hunched over, suffering bone fractures, or needing a hip replacement.

Osteoporosis is a growing global problem – worldwide, fractures affect one in three women and one in five men over the age of 50. Bone fractures can have devastating consequences; from affecting a person’s mobility and self sufficiency to causing institutionalisation and even death. The good news is that the debilitating effects of osteoporosis can be prevented.

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis means “porous bone” and is caused by a reduction in bone density. Due to the fact that women can lose between 1 and 5% of their bone mass every year following menopause, women are much more prone to developing osteoporosis than men. Although this accelerated bone loss is primarily caused by an oestrogen deficiency, a poor calcium intake may also contribute to low bone mass.

Facts about osteoporosis

According to health24.com, the following are some facts about osteoporosis:

More than one third of women over the age of 50 and nearly half of those over age 70 are affected by this disease.
Osteoporosis in men is on the increase, and one in five men will develop this disease.
In most cases the patient is 50-70 years old before osteoporosis is diagnosed.
Without appropriate preventative therapy, one out of every three White and Asian post-menopausal women will have a spine fracture.
A woman’s risk of sustaining a hip fracture is equal to the combined risk of developing breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer.
Up to 20% of hip fracture victims die within one year; 15-25% will require institutionalisation and less than half will regain full functional capability.
In developed countries, spinal osteoporosis is six times more common in women than in men, and hip fractures two to three times. In developing countries, including South Africa, the incidence of hip fractures in men approximates that of women.
Although treatable, the prevention of osteoporosis is much more effective.
Recent advances in treatment options have resulted in a 50-70% reduction in the rate of osteoporotic fractures.

Risk factors

The Mayo Clinic lists the following as risk factors for developing osteoporosis:

Risk factors you can change

Low calcium intake contributes to diminished bone density, early bone loss, and an increased risk of fractures.
The exact role tobacco plays in osteoporosis isn’t clearly understood, but researchers do know that tobacco use contributes to weak bones.
Women and men with anorexia nervosa or bulimia are at higher risk of lower bone density.
People who spend a lot of time sitting have a higher risk of osteoporosis than their more active counterparts.
Regular consumption of more than two alcoholic drinks a day increases your risk of osteoporosis.
Long-term use of corticosteroid medications is damaging to bone.
Long-term use of aromatase inhibitors to treat breast cancer, the antidepressant medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the cancer treatment drug methotrexate, some anti-seizure medications, the acid-blocking drugs called proton pump inhibitors and aluminium-containing antacids are all associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis.

Risk factors you can’t change

Fractures from osteoporosis are almost twice as common in women as they are in men.
The older you get, the greater your risk of osteoporosis.
You’re at greatest risk of osteoporosis if you’re white or of Asian descent.
Having a parent or sibling with osteoporosis puts you at greater risk.
Men and women who are exceptionally thin (with a body mass index of 19 or less) or have small body frames tend to have a higher risk because they may have less bone mass to draw from as they age.
Too much thyroid hormone also can cause bone loss. This can occur either because your thyroid is overactive (hyperthyroidism) or because you take excess amounts of thyroid hormone medication to treat an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
Stomach surgery (gastrectomy) and weight-loss surgery can affect your body’s ability to absorb calcium. So can conditions such as Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, hyperparathyroidism and Cushing’s disease.

Prevention

The National Osteoporosis Foundation has a “five steps to bone health and osteoporosis prevention” plan:

Get your daily recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D.
Engage in regular weight-bearing exercise.
Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol intake.
Talk to your healthcare provider about bone health.
When appropriate, take a bone density test and use the prescribed medication.

The information and other content provided in this article are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. If you or any other person has a medical concern, you should consult with your health care provider or seek other professional medical treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.