Frequently Asked Questions
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a silent, bone-thinning disease which reduces the strength of bones, causing them to become brittle and easily broken. These breaks can be painful, affect your posture and the way you look and move, and even result in permanent disability. Although osteoporosis is preventable and treatable, people usually first find out that they suffer from osteoporosis when they break a bone. The bones in your hip, wrist, and spine are at the greatest risk for fracture. Hip and spine fractures can also cause psychological symptoms, mostly depression as people try to deal with pain, physical limitation, and lifestyle changes.
Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease. It affects about 25 million Americans, mostly women. Half of all women and over 10% of men will suffer from osteoporosis. Each year in the United States there are 500,000 osteoporosis-related bone breaks and direct medical costs of $13.8 billion.
Changeable risk factors for osteoporosis:
- A diet low in Calcium and Vitamin D
- Not enough exercise
- Smoking
- Alcohol abuse
- Medications (steroids and thyroid medications especially)
Unchangeable risk factors for osteoporosis:
- Being female
- Menopause
- Increasing age
- Being White, Asian, or Hispanic
- History of broken bones as an adult
- Small, thin body frame
- Family history
- Diseases such as hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, diabetes, Cushing's disease, eating disorders, and gastrointestinal malabsorption
- Surgeries such as abdominal surgery, intestinal bypass surgery, removal of ovaries, and thyroidectomy
Does my medication put me at risk?
There are medications that can contribute to osteoporosis. The most commonly used medications that cause bone to thin are steroids and thyroid replacement medications, if given in too high of a dose. Other medications that can cause problems are diuretics or water pills such as Lasix that cause the body to rid itself of sodium, water, and calcium. Long-term use of Heparin (a blood-thinner) or Methotrexate (chemotherapy agent) can also weaken bone structure. Anti-convulsants can decrease calcium absorption and production of vitamin D. Chronic use of aluminum antacids decreases the amount of calcium in the body.
Excessive smoking and alcohol use also put you at risk.
Never stop taking any medication without consulting your family doctor. If you are concerned that one of your medications puts you at risk, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Do I have osteoporosis? How do I find out?
Take this test , to see if you are at risk for osteoporosis.
Your doctor may wish to do a bone density test , to provide the information need to make an accurate diagnosis. Regular X-Rays generally cannot see osteoporosis.
What happens if I have osteoporosis?
Your bone thickness will decrease, and it becomes easier to break bones. It can be treated with medication, diet, and exercise. Early diagnosis can make a difference in your lifestyle and help you avoid breaking bones.
Where can I get more information on osteoporosis?
Ask your primary health care provider about osteoporosis and where you can get bone densitometry testing.
Aspen Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Specialists, S.C. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, hosts this site. You can contact us for more information.
The National Osteoporosis Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information about osteoporosis. Their site contains current new and information on osteoporosis.
Merck & Company provided some of the information for this site. Their site contains a wide variety of useful medical information.