Osteoporosis

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by low bone mineral density and deterioration of bone tissue and bone structure. This leads to an increased risk of bone fractures, especially in the hip, spine and wrist.

Some key facts about osteoporosis:

• It is often called a "silent disease" because there are usually no symptoms until a fracture occurs


• It affects more than 200 million people worldwide


• Women are at higher risk due to menopause and loss of estrogen


• Key risk factors include family history, smoking, excessive alcohol, inadequate calcium/vitamin D intake

Diagnosing Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is diagnosed through a bone mineral density (BMD) test such as a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan. This scan measures BMD in the hip and spine. Based on the BMD T-score from the scan, a doctor can diagnose:

• Normal bone density: T-score of -1.0 or above


• Osteopenia (low bone mass): T-score between -1.0 and -2.5


• Osteoporosis: T-score of -2.5 or below

Treating and Preventing Osteoporosis

While there is no cure, the key goals are preventing further bone loss and fractures. Recommended lifestyle measures include:

• Adequate calcium (1,000-1,200mg/day) and vitamin D (600-800 IU/day) intake


• Weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercises


• Fall prevention


• Avoiding smoking and heavy alcohol intake

Medications like bisphosphonates may also be used to slow bone loss and strengthen bones. At Hormone Harmony Clinic, our physicians can determine if hormone therapy may help for osteoporosis prevention and treatment.

I hope this overview on what is osteoporosis helps summarize some key aspects of this common bone disease. Let me know if you have any other questions!