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Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis (brittle bones) is a metabolic bone disease characterized by low bone mass leading to
bone fragility and increase in risk of fracture. In the U.S., an estimated 10 to 15 million patients have
osteoporosis, predominantly in women, resulting in 1.5 million fractures each year. Osteoporosis has no
symptoms until fracture occurs.
Risk Factors
Treatment
Risk factors for development of osteoporosis
include age, low body weight, family history,
smoking and excessive alcohol, a diet low in
calcium, lack of exercise, menopause, certain
drugs and certain medical conditions.
Treatment of osteoporosis includes a balanced
diet rich in calcium and vitamin D supplements,
exercise, tobacco cessation, alcohol avoidance,
and drug therapy (actonel, fosamax, evista,
miacalcin, estrogen, etc.)
What Bones Does Osteoporosis Affect?
Foods that are a good source of calcium include
milk, yogurt, ice cream, cheese, sardines with
bones, canned salmon with bones, collard
greens, tofu, fortified orange juice, fortified soy
milk, fortified cereals, and almonds.
Osteoporosis can happen to any of your bones,
but is most common in the hip, wrist, and the
spine, also called your vertebrae (ver-tuh-bray).
Vertebrae are important because these bones
allow your body to stand and sit upright. See the
picture below.
There are risks and benefits in both directions of
treatment, even diet. For example, patients with
history of kidney stones might have a concern
with increased intake of calcium. Discuss with
your physician what is best for you.
Prevention
No matter how old you are, it is never too late to
start! Building strong bones during childhood
and adolescence is the best defense against
getting osteoporosis later.
Building strong bones at a young age will lessen
the effects of the natural bone loss that starts
around age 30. As you age, bones don’t make
new bone quickly enough to keep up with the
bone loss.
Osteoporosis in the vertebrae can cause serious
problems for women. A fracture in this area
occurs from day-to-day activities like climbing
stairs, lifting objects, or bending forward.
After menopause, bone loss increases more
quickly. But there are steps you can take to stop
your bones from becoming weak and brittle. And
of course, we cannot overemphasize the
importance of Fall Prevention! Please call Facey
Education Department for Osteoporosis and Fall
Prevention classes.
This information is presented by Facey’s Patient Education department
For information about classes that Facey offers, call toll free 866 837-5605.
Rev. 2011
Copyright © 2011 Facey Medical Foundation