BONE DISORDER
Osteoporosis is the most common bone disorder. Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become weak and are more likely to fracture or break. In the United States, 44 million Americans are at risk for osteoporosis. Ten million already have the disease. Women make up 80 percent of cases.
Osteporosis risk factors include:
- Family history of fractures
- Postmenopausal
- Premenopausal with irregular or no menstrual periods
- Thin or small frame
- Caucasian or Asian
- Diet low in calcium and vitamin D
- Little or no exercise
- Cigarette smoking
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Therapy with a steroid (such as prednisone) for any significant length of time
- Having a condition called “rheumatoid arthritis”
If you have gone through menopause (even if you have been taking hormone therapy for a long time), have had a fracture (bone break), or are considering treatment for osteoporosis, a bone density test (DXA scan) can help determine your risk of fracture. You can take these steps to prevent bone loss:
- Take calcium and vitamin D supplementation
- Do weight-bearing exercises and stay physically fit
- Avoid smoking
- Don’t drink too much alcohol
Even with a healthy lifestyle, however, you may still need additional therapy to protect against bone loss and fractures. Your doctor may need to prescribe medications such as:
- Bisphosphonates (alendronate, risedronate, ibandronate, zoledronic acid)
- Raloxifene
- Teriparatide
- Estrogen (when also prescribed for the relief of menopausal symptoms)
- Calcitonin
