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Osteoporosis: Frequently Asked Questions

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a bone disorder characterized by a decrease in bone density leading to an increased risk of a fracture.
Osteoporosis occurs when bones lose their strength and density, and become fragile and fracture (break) more easily because of calcium loss. This disease particularly affects women in their middle and later years. It is quite different from osteoarthritis which affects joint surfaces.
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. These broken bones, also known as fractures, most often occur in the hip, spine, and wrist. Unfortunately, osteoporosis is not often detected until a fracture occurs. These fractures can result in pain, height loss, and, possibly permanent disability and dependence. There are a number of factors known to increase the risk of developing osteoporosis. ...

Are there treatments for osteoporosis?

The main goal of treatment is to prevent a fracture. Eating a balanced and healthy diet that includes enough calcium and vitamin D will help. Participating in weight bearing activities will also help. Your provider may prescribe medications to slow bone loss and increase bone strength. Making simple changes in your home can help prevent a fall, which may result in a fracture.

Is osteoporosis reversible?

Yes. Bone density can be increased with calcium and magnesium, vitamin D, natural hormone replacement, strontium, vitamin K, and if necessary with medications like bisphosphonates and parathyroid hormone. Even older patients with a history of osteoporotic fractures can increase their bone density. Lifestyle changes including daily weightbearing exercises, lower protein diets, and avoidance of salt and sugar are also recommended.

Is osteoporosis common?

Osteoporosis is the most common type of metabolic bone disease in the U.S. It occurs when the body fails to form enough new bone or when too much of the old bone is reabsorbed by the body, or both.

Are there tests for osteoporosis?

If you think you may be at risk for osteoporosis, talk to your health-care provider. You may be asked to undergo a bone mineral density (BMD) test to determine your bone mass. One of the most common is called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (or DEXA Scan). For this test, you will lie on a table while a scanner is passed slowly over your body. It takes two to five minutes.

Is there a cure for osteoporosis?

Although there is no cure for osteoporosis, it can be treated. The goal of treatment is to prevent fractures. Along with making lifestyle changes, there are several medication options.
No, there is no cure for osteoporosis, but it is treatable. There are steps you can take to prevent it or slow its progress. Maintaining an adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D, doing regular, appropriate exercise and taking medication as prescribed are all important for maintaining bone health.

Is Osteoporosis fatal?

The answer to this question is yes Osteoporosis is potentially fatal. However, in saying that, most deaths occur due to side effects of the disease. Of the hip fractures that are attributed to osteoporosis, around 20 percent of patients die over the subsequent six to twelve months. Most of these fractures require surgery of some type and the deaths are generally as a result of surgical complications, pneumonia or blood clots.

Osteoporosis and chiropractic?

Osteoporosis is a condition of decreased bone hardness, which makes your bones more brittle and susceptible to fracture. Though fractures can be very painful, osteoporosis itself does not produce pain. We treat many patients with osteoporosis and, with the gentle and controlled methods used in our offices, have provided much pain relief. Once again, unless a fracture is involved, the pain that is often blamed on your osteoporosis is probably very treatable.

Is osteoporosis preventable?

A calcium-rich diet, weight-bearing exercise and avoidance of smoking and excessive alcohol can help prevent loss of bone mass.

What alternative treatments are there for osteoporosis?

HRT is no longer typically used as a first line treatment for osteoporosis or for the prevention of osteoporosis in high-risk patients. The bisphosonates (marketed under names like Fosamax, Boniva, and Actonel) are generally recognized as more effective in this regard. Whether these medications would be a better option than HRT for young people with low sex hormones is not clear. ...
Source: www.isna.org

Can osteoporosis be prevented?

The best prevention for osteoporosis is to build strong bones during your lifetime. Ways to do this include: Eat a healthy and balanced diet Get enough calcium from your diet or calcium supplements Get enough Vitamin D from sunlight or foods like milk. Be active with weight-bearing activities, such as walking and dancing helps to slow bone loss Stop smoking Limit the amount of alcohol you drink

How is osteoporosis diagnosed?

Information about your bone health is important. This includes information about: a family history of osteoporosis your medication history smoking drinking alcohol previous fractures changes in posture or height Women will be asked about their menopausal status. A bone density test called a DEXA scan tells us about bone health. It is used for both screening and diagnosis. Women 65 and older should be screened for osteoporosis. Screening for women at a higher risk should start at age 60.
Ultrasound and various types of x-rays are used to detect osteoporosis. The most common test for diagnosing osteoporosis is called a DXA test (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry).

How common is osteoporosis?

It is most common in older women. In the US, it affects nearly 10 million people. More than 2 million men have osteoporosis. An additional 18 million people have low bone density. This puts them at risk for additional bone loss and bone fractures.

What causes osteoporosis ?

Our bones are made of a strong outer case. On the inside of this casing, is a mesh which looks a bit like a sponge, with blood vessels and bone marrow in the space in between bone. Quite simply - osteoporosis occurs when the holes in this mesh become bigger, making it weak. ...
The most common causes of osteoporosis are an inadequate diet, smoking, heavy drinking, insufficient weight-bearing activity, decreasing levels of sex hormones, and drugs such as prednisone, cortisone, anti-seizure drugs and excessive thyroid medication. Certain diseases can also lead to osteoporosis.

What are the types of osteoporosis ?

Type 1 (Hypogonadal) This group is comprised of men and women who have osteopenia and osteoporosis due to loss of sex hormones. This hormonal loss could be a result of illness, exercise or age. Type 2 (Primary) This is the osteopenia/osteoporosis of aging. It occurs in all human beings as they age. ...

How is osteoporosis treated?

Osteoporosis is treated with the above preventive measures and with drugs such as Actonel ® , Boniva ® , Didronel PMO ® , Fosamax ® , Evista ® , calcitonin, Forteo ® , Protelos ® (strontium ranelate) and hormone replacement therapy. Braces are occasionally used to help support the spine, hip pads may be recommended to help prevent hip fractures, and surgical procedures may be used to treat vertebral fractures. ...

Who gets osteoporosis?

Anybody can get osteoporosis, whether they're young or old. However, women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men. Women often have smaller skeletal frames than men, and their estrogen and progesterone levels decrease around menopause, which often results in significant bone loss. Nevertheless, men also get osteoporosis, and it's more prevalent than originally thought. People with a family history of osteoporosis or fragility fractures are more susceptible to getting osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis typically affects women, starting at age 50, and men, starting at age 60. Women are 4 times as likely to develop osteoporosis as men. Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis, frequently due to hormonal changes that occur during menopause.

Who is at risk for osteoporosis?

Everyone, both men and women, lose bone strength as they grow older. Women have a higher risk for osteoporosis than men because they have smaller, thinner frames. Women also are affected by menopause. After menopause, women produce less estrogen which helps protect against bone loss.

Does PhysiCAL fight Osteoporosis?

The daily intake of 800 mg of calcium throughout your life will help to combat osteoporoses. In fact, PhysiCAL milk is so good for your body and your bones, that the National Osteoporosis Foundation of South Africa (NOFSA) has given PhysiCAL its stamp of approval.

What If I Have Osteoporosis?

While we cannot guarantee results in every case, we can guarantee we only take cases we feel are appropriate and will respond to chiropractic care. We also constantly evaluate the patients response to care. If we aren't getting results as expected, we stop and reevaluate. This usually leads to either a change in our approach or a referral to an appropriate specialist.
Chiropractors see an enormous range of patients. From adjusting newborns to the elderly, exacting protocols and techniques are always practiced by expert chiropractors. Appropriate modifications in adjusting techniques are made to assure the safest and most effective care available. Amazingly, these two populations seem to get the greatest benefit from chiropractic. The very young respond so well because their issues are typically not long-standing. ...

What is postmenopausal osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a condition that thins and weakens bones, putting women at risk for fractures. Postmenopausal osteoporosis is caused by bone loss that women experience after menopause.

Is Pilates good for Osteoporosis?

Clients suffering from loss of bone density, mild or extreme, can benefit greatly from a very specifically tailored Pilates program. Private instruction is a must due to the fact that many of the exercises in Pilates are not ideal and can even be detrimental to clients with osteoporosis. Others are highly beneficial and effective. We have had the good fortune of playing a role in assisting several clients with a reversal of osteoporosis through diet, medication (sometimes) and a safe, weight-bearing exercise program.

What are the clinical signs of osteoporosis?

Typical signs are fractures of the vertebral column, the neck of the femur and the wrist. Osteoporotic fractures may occur spontaneously while standing, walking or sitting – and even while sleeping. Simple movements such as lifting a shopping bag or carrying your grandchild may cause a fracture. Each fracture increases the risk of suffering the next one. ...
Source: www.dzu.at
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