Feature Article
Osteoporosis related fractures: help prevent them
 

May is osteoporosis awareness month. As the most common bone disease, osteoporosis is a growing problem in our aging population. It is sometimes confused with osteoarthritis, which is the wearing out of cartilage. Osteoporosis is when the bones become porous or thin, caused by a lack of calcium structure in the bone.

Aging leads to calcium loss, which causes a decrease in bone density. This is much more of problem for women.  As women go through menopause, their bones can lose as much as 3 percent calcium per year.

 

Patients with osteoporosis are literally “one trip away from a fracture”.  One in three women over age 50 will experience osteoporotic fractures, as will one in five men aged over 50.

 

What starts as a “silent disease” can lead to major life altering fractures of the hip, spine and wrist. 

 

A simple, painless test can measure the amount of calcium in your bones.  A bone density scan (or DEXA scan) can diagnosis osteoporosis.  Bone density predicts fracture risk just like blood pressure predicts the risk of stroke or heart trouble.

 

The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends bone density testing should be performed on all women aged 65 and older, or for younger post-menopausal women with one or more risk factors such as poor vision, recent falls, low physical activity or low calcium.

 

Prevention of fractures

Steps that nearly all patients can take to prevent fractures include adequate daily calcium and vitamin D in your diet, as well as regular weight bearing exercise. 

 

The most important step in prevention is regular weight-bearing exercise. The stress of the body’s weight against gravity stimulates the bone to become stronger. Walking, jogging, stair climbing, dancing, and tennis are all good forms of exercise. Besides building stronger bones, strengthening muscles can also help prevent falls. 

 

Before beginning a vigorous exercise program it is prudent to visit your family practice or internal medicine physician for their guidance.

 

The recommended dietary allowance for calcium for patients over age 50 is at least 1200 mg per day of elemental calcium. The safe upper limit for total calcium intake has been set at 2500 mg/day. 

 

Taking calcium supplements isn’t enough, though. Equally important is getting enough vitamin D in the diet.  Vitamin D helps your gut absorb the calcium and gets the calcium into you blood where it can be used.  For patients at high risk for osteoporosis 400 – 800 IU of Vitamin D is usually enough.  Spending time outside in the sunshine also helps your body make its own vitamin D. 

 

If you have a low score on your bone density scan, you should make an appointment with a primary care physician who cares for patients with osteoporosis, or you may need an endocrinologist for the selection of one of the newer drugs that can increase your bone mass.

 

Osteoporosis is a “silent disease” that can have major impact on your overall health, but you can work to prevent it.   

 

To start preventing osteoporosis fractures:

  • Calcium 1200mg/day
  • Vitamin D 400 – 800 IU/day
  • Weight-bearing exercise
  • Bone density scan when at risk
  • Drug therapy if you have osteoporosis

 

Learn more about the calcium you need at our website.

 

This article is a courtesy of UT Health Orthopaedics, (210) 450-9300.
Eat a diet rich in calcium
 

Calcium is the most common mineral in the body, and one of the most important. Learn how you can get more of the calcium you need in the foods you choose.