Osteoporosis
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis means “Porous Bone”.
This happens when your bone loses too much calcium and becomes weak. This is very hard to detect and is usually discovered only after a fracture occurs, or if a person shows reduced height or a humping of the back, or suffers low back pain.
A person with osteoporosis has bones that are brittle and fragile. These fragile bones can break very easily with a simple slip or fall, or even with no injury at all.
What causes Osteoporosis?
The bone is a living tissue. When we are young, any loss of bone is easily replaced. At around the age of 30, our bones are at their strongest. However, as we age, less bone is made and more bone is lost.
After menopause your body’s supply of estrogen decreases and the rate of bone loss increases even further. This is why postmenopausal women are more likely to suffer from osteoporosis.
What happens when you have Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a silent disease; this is where the danger lies. Most people do not know they have osteoporosis until it is too late. Their bones become so fragile that even the smallest amount of stress can cause a break or fracture.
The bones in your hip, wrist and spine are at greatest risk of breaking. If the bones in your upper back are fractured, your spine may curve to form a hump.
Are you at Risk?
All men and women can be at risk. Some are at a higher risk than others.
The risk factors include:
- A previous non-violent fracture
- Early menopause before age 45 years, whether natural or through surgery
- An immediate family member with who has osteoporosis
- Being underweight
- Being frail due to long-term illness
- Smoking
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Not exercising much or not being able to move for a long period of time
- A diet that does not have enough calcium or vitamin D
- Certain illnesses e.g. rheumatoid arthritis
- Certain medicine e.g. corticosteroids, thyroid medication
The OSTA- Osteoporosis Self-assessment Tool for Asians – a quick and easy test that helps you discover your risk of osteoporosis
Measure your weight in kilograms (kg) and look at the OSTA chart to see what your risk is for your present age.
How can you tell if you have Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis does not usually show any symptoms or signs until the bone are so weak that a fracture occurs.
Osteoporosis can be easily detected through a painless procedure called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). This test measures the density or solidness of the bones, know as the bone mineral density or BMD
How can Osteoporosis be treated & prevented?
Osteoporosis can be treated. There are medicines available that help strengthen bones and reduce the incidences of fractures.
However, the best way to deal with osteoporosis is to prevent it from happening in the first place.
- Through diet and lifestyle. To build and keep bones strong, the food you eat must contain enough calcium and vitamin D
- Through exercise. Regular weight bearing exercises are important throughout life. They are the best way to keep your bones strong and healthy
Patient Education Guide
(Downloadable in pdf format)