Editor’s note: Since National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, Women’s Health Week (May 10-16) and Mother’s Day (May 10) all occur during the month of May, we’ve decided to focus this month’s blog on osteoporosis, a disease that affects four times as many women as men.

When you think of diseases that disproportionately affect women, breast cancer or ovarian cancer are likely what comes to mind. But while it affects both sexes, osteoporosis, which causes weakened bones and increases your risk of fracture, affects women at a rate four times that of men, making it a major women’s health concern.

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation:

• Roughly 10 million Americans–including 8 million women–suffer from osteoporosis
• Nearly half of women age 50 and over (22.7 million) suffer from osteopenia, a disease that is a precursor to osteoporosis.
• A woman’s risk of breaking a hip is equal to her combined risk of breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer.

What exactly is osteoporosis and why does it impact women so much more intensely than men? What, if anything, can be done to prevent it?

Our bones are constantly changing

Most people don’t think of their bones as growing, living tissue. In fact our bones are continually undergoing change. In a lifelong process called “bone remodeling” or “bone turnover”, our bodies are constantly removing old bone tissue and growing new tissue. From birth through our twenties, growth of new tissue outpaces removal of old tissue, resulting in a net gain. By about age 30, most people will reach “peak bone mass,” meaning their bones are the strongest and most dense that they will ever be. After age 30 the removal of old bone tissue outpaces formation of new tissue, resulting in a net bone loss.

For women, menopause marks a period of rapid bone loss. This period can last up to 10 years and is associated with a drop in estrogen, which plays a key role in maintaining bone density.

Diagnosing osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is often called a “silent disease” because the telltale signs of the disease, such as a loss of height and kyphosis aka “dowager’s hump” aren’t apparent until the disease is in its advance stages. In fact, many people don’t know they have it until they suffer a fracture.

The most common and accurate method for assessing a person’s risk to develop osteoporosis is by measuring bone mineral density (BMD). The most common and accurate BMD test is called a DEXA (duel energy x-ray absorptiometry) scan. A DEXA scan is like an x-ray that quickly measures how much calcium and other minerals are in a certain area of your bones (typically the hip or spine area).

• Osteopenia occurs when bone mineral density falls to lower than normal levels.
• Osteoporosis occurs when the loss in bone mineral density is so great that bones become porous and brittle and susceptible to fractures.

Risk factors

Your doctor will order a DEXA scan for you if certain risk factors are present. The major risk factors for osteoporosis include but are not limited to:

• Family history. Osteoporosis tends to run in families. If one of your parents has suffered a hip fracture or kyphosis, you have a greater risk of osteoporosis.
• Gender. Women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men.
• Age. Your risk of osteoporosis increases with age. Post-menopausal women over age 50 have the greatest risk of developing osteoporosis.
• Race. Asian and Caucasian women have a higher risk than African American or Hispanic women.
• Bone structure and body weight. Petite women and small-boned, thin men tend to have less bone mass and thus higher risk.
• History of fractures. Having one fracture increase the risk of more fractures.
• Certain diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and type 1 diabetes, have been linked with a higher risk of osteoporosis.

Lifestyle changes for stronger bones

While many risk factors for osteoporosis are beyond your control, there are many lifestyle changes you can make to manage or even prevent this disease.

• Stop smoking. Smoking is harmful to bone health on a multiple levels. It has a toxic effect on osteoblasts, the cells responsible for manufacturing bone. Women smokers tend to produce less estrogen, and very young smokers (teenagers, adolescents) run the risk of never reaching peak bone mass.
• Limit alcohol use. Like smoking, long- term and/or heavy use of alcohol negatively impacts bone health on multiple levels. Alcohol damages organs that are involved in the absorption of two essential nutrients for bone health, calcium and vitamin D, and it increases the production of hormones involved in bone breakdown, cortisol and parathyroid hormone. Like smoking, alcohol kills osteoblasts. It also impedes the healing process if you suffer a fracture.
• Eat foods that are good for bone health. Calcium and vitamin D are vital nutrients for healthy bones. Dairy products such as low-fat milk, non-fat yogurt, and cheese are excellent sources of calcium and are often fortified with vitamin D. If you’re lactose intolerant, don’t worry! There are plenty of non-dairy options for calcium and vitamin D, including almonds, canned salmon and sardines, green leafy vegetables such as kale, bok choy and broccoli, soy products (soy milk, tofu), fortified produces (cereals, orange juice) and dietary supplements.
• Do weight bearing exercise. Exercise, especially weight-bearing exercise, is beneficial for bone health at all ages. Weight bearing and resistance exercises stimulate the cells that make bone. You don’t have to hit the weight room or the gym; walking, hiking, or dancing are all good options. (Bonus: outdoor exercise means greater exposure to sunlight, thus increasing your body’s production of vitamin D.)
• Tell your doctor about all of your medications. Long term use of some medications, including steroids, thyroid medications, anticonvulsants, antacids and other drugs can increase your risk of osteoporosis. If you have other risk factors for osteoporosis, speak with your doctor about prescribing alternatives to these medications.

In conclusion

Living with osteoporosis doesn’t have to be inevitable. With early detection and lifestyle changes, you can considerably lessen your risk to develop this disease.

Your Partner In Health,

Graybill Medical Group

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If you have more than one risk factor for osteoporosis, call us a 866-228-2236 and ask to speak with your Graybill doctor about lifestyle changes and other therapies to manage or lessen your risk of developing this disease.