How do osteoporosis affect the body

Seizure medications and thyroid replacement therapy if dosage is too high can increase this risk as well. Your doctor may detect osteoporosis by measuring your bone density.

A machine called a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, or DXA machine, can scan your hip and spine to determine how dense your bones are compared to other people of your gender and age. A doctor can interpret the results, letting you know if your bone density is normal or below normal. Sometimes a doctor will give a diagnosis for osteopenia , or low bone mass. Osteoporosis can increase the risk for bone fractures, particularly for the wrist, spine, or hip. The effects of spinal fractures can cause a person to become shorter because fractures can shorten the spinal column.

In some instances, bone fractures may require surgery. Fractures can increase your risk for disability or death, according to the Mayo Clinic. Treatment for osteoporosis includes medications to help build bone mass. The medications often have hormonal influences, stimulating or acting like estrogen in the body to encourage bone growth.

Examples of medications used to treat osteoporosis include:. Romosozumab Evenity is a newer medication that was approved by the FDA in April to treat women who have gone through menopause and are at a high risk of having fractures. Kyphoplasty is a surgical treatment for fractures. Kyphoplasty involves using small incisions to insert a small balloon into the collapsed vertebrae to restore height and function to the spine. Regular weight-bearing exercises help to build bone mass.

Examples include weightlifting, dancing, jogging, or racquet sports like tennis. After that, calcium needs often increase to between 1, and 1, mg. Foods that are rich in calcium include:. Get vitamin D on a daily basis. Vitamin D is vital to helping the body absorb calcium. Most people need international units IU of vitamin D each day.

About 15 minutes of daily sun exposure can stimulate vitamin D production. It also has a free telephone helpline that may be particularly helpful if you're newly diagnosed with osteoporosis. Our guide to care and support explains your options and where you can get support. Page last reviewed: 18 June Next review due: 18 June The most common injuries in people with osteoporosis are: broken wrist broken hip broken spinal bones vertebrae However, breaks can also happen in other bones, such as in the arm or pelvis.

Osteoporosis can be treated with bone strengthening medicines. Bone loss before osteoporosis osteopenia The stage before osteoporosis is called osteopenia. Osteopenia does not always lead to osteoporosis. It depends on many factors. Who's affected by osteoporosis? Osteoporosis affects over 3 million people in the UK. Causes of osteoporosis Losing bone is a normal part of ageing, but some people lose bone much faster than normal. However osteoporosis can also affect men, younger women and children.

Many other factors can also increase the risk of developing osteoporosis, including: taking high-dose steroid tablets for more than 3 months other medical conditions — such as inflammatory conditions, hormone-related conditions, or malabsorption problems a family history of osteoporosis — particularly a hip fracture in a parent long-term use of certain medicines that can affect bone strength or hormone levels, such as anti-oestrogen tablets that many women take after breast cancer having or having had an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia having a low body mass index BMI not exercising regularly heavy drinking and smoking Read more about the causes of osteoporosis.

Diagnosing osteoporosis and osteopenia If your doctor suspects you have osteoporosis, they can work out your future risk of breaking a bone using an online programme, such as FRAX or Q-Fracture.

Bone density scan DEXA scan They may also refer you for a bone density scan to measure your bone strength. A fracture of the thigh bone at the hip due to a fall can lead to an inability to walk unassisted for a prolonged period, a loss of independence, long-term nursing care and an increased likelihood of dying during the year following the fracture. But there are steps you can take to help reduce your chances of getting osteoporosis, and for those who have osteoporosis there are treatments available that help strengthen bones and reduce the risk of fractures.

Bone is a living tissue that is in a state of constant turnover. Spongy bone turns over faster than cortical bone. Both osteoblast activity and osteoclast activity are needed to maintain healthy bone tissue. The balance between these 2 opposing activities within bone is influenced by several factors, including:. If the amount of bone being formed is greater than the amount of bone being resorbed, then your bone mass — the amount of bone in your skeleton — will increase, as occurs during childhood.

However, around the age of 30, the amount of bone being resorbed begins to become slightly greater than the amount of bone being formed, and for many years after this age, this slight imbalance leads to a gradual loss of bone mass as you age. If you are a woman, the menopause is a significant event in terms of your bones.

The drop in the level of the female hormone oestrogen causes a marked decrease in bone mass after the menopause. Bone density in men does decrease with age, but it tends to decrease more slowly than in women. Although osteoporosis is more common in women, men can also develop osteoporosis. Men who have a lower than normal testosterone level have an increased risk of developing osteoporosis. Along with increasing age and being female and having been through menopause, other risk factors for osteoporosis include:.

Osteoporosis can go unnoticed for many years unless a fracture occurs. It is therefore important to discuss your bone health with your doctor as you get older, even if you have not experienced a fracture. To help enhance bone formation, all people — especially women who have gone through menopause — should:. Osteoporosis Australia. What you need to know about osteoporosis , 3rd edition Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice , 8th edition.

There are many health problems and a few medical procedures that increase the likelihood of osteoporosis. If you have any of the following diseases or conditions, talk to your doctor or health care provider about what you can do to keep your bones healthy. Note: This list may not include all of the diseases and conditions that may cause bone loss. Talk to your doctor and ask if any of the conditions you have may be causing bone loss.

Some medicines can be harmful to your bones, even if you need to take them for another condition. Bone loss is usually greater if you take the medication in high doses or for a long time. If you need to take a medicine that causes bone loss, work with your healthcare provider to determine the lowest possible dose you can take to control your symptoms.

While steroid medicines can be lifesaving treatments for some conditions, they can also cause bone loss and osteoporosis.

These medicines are often referred to as steroids, glucocorticoids or corticosteroids. They should not be confused with anabolic steroids, which are male hormones that some athletes use to build muscle.

Steroids are much like certain hormones made by your own body. They are often prescribed to relieve inflammation.