Osteoporosis is a condition in which your bone mass is low and bone tissue and structure break down, leading to a higher risk for fracture. Although it primarily affects women, particularly postmenopausal women, men can develop osteoporosis as well.
Significance
Osteoporosis affects approximately 44 million Americans. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, osteoporosis is a direct cause of more than 1.5 million annual fractures involving the hip, vertebrae, wrist and other areas.
Diagnosis
Your doctor may order a bone mineral density test to determine the severity of your bone loss. The test takes measurements at your hip or spine using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (often termed DEXA or DXA) scans. An individual with a bone mineral density score of lower than 2.5 standard deviations or more than that found in a normal young adult has osteoporosis. The bone mineral density testing result is called a T-score.
Risk Factors
Age, gender, prior fractures, a low body mass index, current smoking, alcohol consumption (three drinks or more daily), rheumatoid arthritis, use of oral glucocorticoids, and a history of hip fracture in a parent can indicate fracture risk.
Considerations
The following people should consider treatment: postmenopausal women and men aged 50 and older with a fracture of the hip or vertebrae, a T-score of 2.5 or lower (taken at the femoral neck or spine) or low bone mass, and a 3 percent or greater chance of hip fracture, or a 20 percent or greater chance of major osteoporosis-related fracture at 10 years.
Treatment Options
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved several medications for the treatment of osteoporosis, including bisphosphonates, calcitonin, estrogens, estrogen agonists and parathyroid hormone. All have been shown to decrease fracture risk.
Prevention/Solution
Adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D, regular weight-bearing exercise, avoidance of smoking and alcohol, and implementation of fall prevention strategies (i.e., regular evaluation of hearing and vision) also can decrease fracture risk.
Tags: bone mineral, bone mineral density, fracture risk, mineral density, bone mass, decrease fracture