Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes the thinning of bone and loss of bone density over time. 
Osteoporosis occurs when the body is no longer able to form enough new bone, when too much old bone is re-absorbed by the body, or both. People who suffer from osteoporosis are at a higher risk for bone fracture, than those who do not have osteoporosis. Because the disease is most often associated with old age and the inherent risk issues are not taken seriously present ongoing challenges for the orthopedic profession. In reality Osteoporosis can strike at any age.
FEMR’s public education initiatives and awareness programs include identifying osteoporosis risks; symptoms of osteoporosis, prevention and modification of lifestyles to maximize peak bone mass; early screening and consumer understanding of bone mineral density tests; better consumer education and awareness of treatment options; and an understanding of fall and fracture prevention for individuals living with osteoporosis.
Although Osteoporosis can affect both men and women, women are more likely than men to develop it. Women generally have smaller, thinner bones, and they can lose bone tissue rapidly in the first 4 to 8 
years after menopause because of the sharp decline in production of estrogen. Researchers estimate that about 1 out of 5 American women and 1in 8 men over the age of 50 have osteoporosis. The highest rate of occurrence is among post-menopausal women. The leading causes of osteoporosis are a drop in estrogen in women during menopause and a drop in testosterone in men. Typically, women over age 50 and men over age 70 are at a higher risk for osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is often the root cause of many other health complications, since it progresses silently and undetected for years before being diagnosed. It is only after years of bone loss that obvious signs and symptoms appear, such as bone pain, spinal deformity and fractures. A person’s bones reach their maximum density, strength and peak bone mass between the ages of 20 and 30. After peak bone mass is achieved, bone rebuilding gradually wanes and bone loss begins to occur.
- Women over age 50
- Men age 70 or older
- Post menopausal
- Prolonged hormonal imbalances
- Excess use of certain medications, such as steroids
- Not enough calcium or vitamin D in the diet
- Lack of exercise
- Thin, “small-boned” body frame
- Caucasian
- History of fracture
- Family history of osteoporosis
- Smoking, caffeine, or alcohol consumption
There are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Symptoms of Osteoporosis usually occur late in the disease and include:
- Bone pain or tenderness
- Fractures with little or no trauma
- Loss of height (as much as 6 inches) over time
- Low back pain due to fractures of the spinal bones
- Neck pain due to fractures of the spinal bones
- Stooped posture or kyphosis, also called a "dowager's hump"
A person’s bones are continually renewed by remodeling – building up and breaking down. For this to occur, bones need certain nutrients:
- Calcium - Of all the minerals in the body, there is more calcium than any other. It makes up somewhere around 2% of our total adult body weight, and is stored mostly in our bones and teeth. Calcium has been shown to be effective in helping to build bone mass. For optimum nutrition, the range of calcium intake is between 1000-1500 mg per day depending on your age, dietary intake, and other health conditions. Calcium is found in yogurt, green vegetables such as kale, soy products and tofu, seafood such as salmon and oysters, and sesame seeds. In order for calcium to do its work, you must also provide your bones with other minerals that will increase their flexibility and compactness, most importantly Vitamin D.
- Vitamin D - Vitamin D has also been shown to be effective in building bone mass. It is synthesized in our bodies from sun exposure and is also found in foods such as egg yolks, liver, salt-water fish, and fortified beverages. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium. Daily intake should be approximately 400-800 IU per day depending on the season. This vitamin serves as the body’s great regulator of calcium and phosphorus metabolism in three major ways:
- Vitamin D mobilizes calcium and phosphorus for release from bone in the presence of parathyroid hormone.
- Vitamin D promotes intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphate.
- Vitamin D increases kidney absorption of calcium and phosphorus and carries them into the blood.
- Vitamin K - The recent research on Vitamin K to reduce bone loss has been very promising. Vitamin K has been best known as a treatment for aiding blood coagulation. Recently, researchers have also found that Vitamin K is important for the maintenance of healthy bones. Vitamin K is necessary for the synthesis of osteocalcin, the bone protein matrix upon which calcium crystallizes. Osteocalcin provides the structure and order to bone tissue; without it a bone would be fragile and easily broken. Vitamin K also aids in the binding of calcium to the bone matrix — serving as the “glue” that binds calcium onto the skeleton. Just as vitamin K is central to bone formation, it also appears to play an important role in fracture healing. Vitamin K levels fall during recovery from fracture, and it appears that this nutrient is actually drawn from the rest of the body to the site of fracture. Vitamin K is found in green, leafy vegetables such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, and spinach. Because of Vitamin K's role in blood coagulation, individuals on blood thinners should check with their doctor before attempting to increase their Vitamin K intake.
- Vitamin C - Vitamin C is important to your overall health. Here are three ways in which it is essential for healthy bones.
- Vitamin C assists in the formation of collagen; bone mineral is laid down over a protein matrix called collagen. Collagen is abundant in the connective tissue of cartilage and bone. Collagen makes up about 30% of our bones, acting as a support structure for mineral deposits and giving bone its resilience.
- Vitamin C appears to stimulate the cells that build bone, enhance calcium absorption, and enhance vitamin D’s effect on bone metabolism.
- Vitamin C aids in the synthesis and optimal functioning of adrenal steroid hormones, which play a vital role in bone health — especially during perimenopause and menopause, when ovarian production of these hormones slows
- Exercise - Weight-bearing exercise is vital for bone health. Running, jogging, walking, dancing and weight training are all exercises that put more weight on bones than aerobic activities such as swimming. The added weight on the legs encourages bone formation, creating a stronger frame and this reduces the chance of fractures. Exercise also decreases the risk of falls by improving balance. You should begin with a simple exercise protocol designed by a qualified health care professional.
Risk Factors for Osteoporosis