When bones are fragile due to being too porous – the risk of fractures and breaks increases. Osteoporosis does not give any pre-warning signed until a person incurs their first bone fracture.
Bones are living tissues and from the moment of birth until young adulthood, bones are growing and strengthening. Bones are densest when a person is in their early 20’s. Throughout the rest of our lives, bones are constantly changing. The cycle consists of bone cells dissolving and new cells being formed.
For people living with osteoporosis, the rate of cell formulation is less than the rate of how and when bone cell dissolve. Worldwide, one in three females and one in five males – all over the age of 50 – are at risk for a bone fracture. In fact, around the world, a bone fracture due to osteoporosis happens every five seconds. More than 55 million American are currently living with osteoporosis and low bone mass.
Osteoporosis is a serious, silent and costly disease.
Due to the fact that osteoporosis may cause limited mobility, people may feel physically and mentally isolated because they are unable to join in activities outside their home.
Currently, osteoporosis is responsible for more than two million broken bones – which carry hefty medical cost upwards toward $20 billion. In five short years, it is predicated that osteoporosis will be responsible for more than 3 million fractured and broken bones and more than $25 billion in medical expenses annually.
Conditions, disease and medical procedures that may contribute to bone loss include, but not limited to:
- Breast Cancer
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Eating Disorders
- HIV/AIDS
- Inflammatory Bowel Disorder
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Organ Transplants
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Premature Menopause
- Prostate Cancer
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Weight Loss Surgeries
Due to the fact that we are unable feel weak bones – until they break, osteoporosis is known as silent disease – some signs you may want to watch out for include:
- Back pain due to a collapsed vertebra.
- Reduction in height – over a period of time.
- Poor posture.
- Bones that break very easily.
The risk of developing osteoporosis depends, in part, on how much bone mass is developed during the early formative years. However, there are some unchangeable risk factors such as your age, race, sex, and family history. Fear not – as there are some preventative measures that can be taken to ensure that your bones are healthy throughout your entire life.
Prevention
- Protein consumption. Protein is a building block of bones.
- Healthy weight. Aim for a healthy weight as being overweight can increase fractures and so can being underweight.
- Make sure you are getting the proper amount of calcium, about 1,000 milligrams a day.
- Vitamin D. This important vitamin helps to absorb calcium that is needed for bone health.
- Avoid excess alcohol consumption.
- Avoid tobacco use in any form.
- Weight bearing exercise and balance exercises help to keep bones and muscles strong.