What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a condition that causes weakening of bone and increased likelihood of sustaining a fracture. Osteoporosis can affect any bone in the body. The diagnosis of osteoporosis is made by measuring bone density. This is often done with a DEXA scan. For a DEXA scan you lie on a soft table and a machine moves over you without touching you. Pills and liquids are not necessary, there is no noise, it is painless and it takes a few minutes. People who are diagnosed with osteoporosis will be treated to modify their condition in an effort to prevent fractures.

Osteoporosis is common as we age. About one-third of women over the age of 65 have the diagnosis of osteoporosis. The diagnosis of osteoporosis means that your bone density is at least 2.5 standard deviations below the ideal peak bone mass found in young adults. Osteoporosis is considered severe if you have also sustained a fracture as a result of weak bone.

The two most common reasons people tend to get osteoporosis are low peak bone mass at the time of skeletal maturity or accelerated bone loss at the time of menopause. An individual reaches her highest bone mass at the time of skeletal maturity and loses bone steadily thereafter. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that young people take steps to ensure they develop as much healthy bone as possible. Once bone loss begins, it is also important to ensure the rate of bone loss is slow. The amount of bone loss can accelerate at the time of menopause. Some people will benefit by taking medications to prevent this bone loss.

Quick Facts on Bone Health

1. At some point in early adulthood people reach peak bone density. Throughout life, some bone cells are made as some are depleted.
2. At the time of peak bone density more cells are being made than are depleted, but as people age, the balance shifts so that more bone cells are lost than replaced.
3. If bone loss is severe enough it can lead to osteoporosis, or porous, easily broken bones.
4. Bone density tests are painless and use small amounts of radiation to give a measurement of the amount of minerals in the bones. These tests show how much bone has been lost and give doctors an idea of how likely a patient is to develop osteoporosis.