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Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to become extremely porous, making them weak, brittle, and extremely susceptible to fractures.  Most people think of their bones as solid, unchanging objects, with the tissues of the body built around them.  Bone, however, is actually living tissue, constantly involved in a process of breaking down old cells and rebuilding new.  This is the reason that our bones can heal themselves when fractured.  Osteoporosis is an imbalance in this cycle, where the amount of bone being broken down is consistently higher than the amount of bone that is replaced.  Over 10 million people in the United States have or are at risk of Osteoporosis.  Osteoporosis mainly afflicts women, but 20% of those 10 million are male.  Since it is impossible to feel or see bone loss, most of those with the disease don’t realize the ailment until Osteoporosis is very severe or a bone breaks. 

There are a number of factors that can put you at risk for Osteoporosis, including both age and genetics.  Postmenopausal women with genetic predisposition (Osteoporosis in the mother or sister usually is a major sign) are at the highest risk for developing the disease.  Bone density tests are a safe and easy way to determine whether or not a patient has Osteoporosis.  The National Osteoporosis Foundation has set up guidelines to determine who needs bone density tests.  The list includes all of the following:

• All women aged 65 and older regardless of risk factors
• Younger postmenopausal women with one or more risk factors (other than being white, postmenopausal and female).
• Postmenopausal women who present with fractures (to confirm the diagnosis and determine disease severity).
• Estrogen deficient women at clinical risk for osteoporosis
• Individuals with vertebral abnormalities
• Individuals receiving, or planning to receive, long-term glucocorticoid (steroid) therapy
• Individuals with primary hyperparathyroidism
• Individuals being monitored to assess the response or efficacy of an approved osteoporosis drug therapy.

Medicare covers bone density testing for all individuals 65 years or older, and also permits individuals to repeat this test every two years.
 
When one of our doctors diagnoses a patient with Osteoporosis, a number of different methods can be used to treat the disease.  Although there is no cure, there are treatment methods, including therapy and prescription drugs, which are used to prevent and/or slow the process of bone loss.