Osteoporosis is a serious bone disease in which bone density and quality decrease, resulting in an increased risk of bone fractures. It is particularly common in post-menopausal women and the elderly, but can affect people of any age and gender.

Causes of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is usually part of the aging process. However, some factors can contribute to the development of the disease:

• Age: Bone density usually starts to decrease after the age of 30.
• Gender: Women, especially after menopause, are more prone to osteoporosis.
• Family Background: Families with a history of osteoporosis have a higher risk of developing the disease.
• Nutrition: Calcium and vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of osteoporosis.
• Lack of Physical Activity: Regular exercise, especially weight-bearing and resistance exercises, increases bone density.
• Tobacco and Alcohol Use: Both are harmful to bone health.
• Some Medicines and Diseases: Long-term use of corticosteroids or certain hormonal and digestive diseases may increase the risk of osteoporosis.

Symptoms of Osteoporosis

The symptoms of osteoporosis are often not obvious and the disease is often first diagnosed with a fracture. However, in some cases there may be symptoms such as pain, short stature or hunchback.

Treatment and Prevention of Osteoporosis

Treatment of osteoporosis usually involves lifestyle changes and medication. Lifestyle changes include regular exercise, a healthy diet (especially foods rich in calcium and vitamin D), and avoiding alcohol and tobacco products.

Drug treatment is usually aimed at slowing or stopping the progression of the disease. These treatments usually include calcium, vitamin D, bisphosphonates, calcitonin, raloxifene or teriparatide.

Preventive measures include getting enough calcium and vitamin D, exercising regularly and leading a healthy lifestyle. It is also important that people, especially those at risk, have regular bone density scans.

Although osteoporosis is a serious and potentially disabling condition, it can be managed with early detection and the right treatment. It is important to take active steps to protect your own bone health.

Complications of Osteoporosis

The most common complication of osteoporosis is fractures. When bones are weakened, falls and even minor stresses during normal daily activities can lead to fractures. These fractures usually occur in the hip, spine and wrist. Hip fractures are particularly serious because they often require major surgery and can lead to permanent loss of mobility.

Spinal fractures can also lead to serious complications. Many small fractures can affect body posture, cause pain, limit your mobility and significantly reduce your quality of life.

What Can We Do to Reduce Risk?

There are several strategies to reduce the risk of osteoporosis:

• Healthy eating: It is important to get enough calcium and vitamin D. Calcium is important for bone health and vitamin D helps the absorption of calcium. Dairy products, green leafy vegetables and calcium-enriched foods are good sources of calcium. Vitamin D is produced naturally in our bodies when we are exposed to sunlight, but this ability decreases as we age. Fish, egg yolks and foods fortified with vitamin D are good ways to get it.
• Regular exercise: Physical activity helps to maintain and increase bone density. Weight-bearing exercises, resistance exercises and even low-impact exercises such as yoga and pilates can be beneficial.
• Avoid tobacco and alcohol consumption: Both tobacco and excessive alcohol use negatively affect bone health.
• Reduce the risk of falls: It is important to make changes at home that reduce the risk of falls. This includes securing loose carpets, providing adequate lighting and using anti-slip rugs in the bathroom and kitchen.

Osteoporosis and Quality of Life

The effects of osteoporosis can have a significant impact on quality of life. However, with appropriate treatment and lifestyle changes, it may be possible to manage the negative effects of osteoporosis and maintain quality of life.

For people suffering from osteoporosis, physical therapy and regular exercise programs can be particularly beneficial. These programs can relieve pain, reduce the risk of falls and improve overall quality of life.

In conclusion, osteoporosis is not a life-threatening disease, but it can lead to serious complications. Therefore, it is important to take preventive steps and undergo regular health check-ups to reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis Screenings and Diagnosis

Because osteoporosis is often asymptomatic, regular screenings are vital. A screening method called dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is the gold standard for detecting osteoporosis by measuring your bone density.

Depending on your risk factors, age and general health, your doctor can decide how often you should have a DEXA scan. The American Osteoporosis Foundation generally recommends that women older than 65 years and men older than 70 years with risk factors undergo regular screening.

Management of Osteoporosis and Drug Therapies

Management of osteoporosis usually involves lifestyle changes and drug therapies. Drug treatments are usually aimed at increasing bone density or slowing bone loss. Medication options include:

• Bisphosphonates: Medicines such as alendronate (Fosamax), risedronate (Actonel), ibandronate (Boniva) and zoledronic acid (Reclast) help slow bone loss.
• Hormone therapy: In postmenopausal women, estrogen replacement therapy may reduce the risk of osteoporosis, but this treatment may also increase the risk of heart disease, breast cancer and some other health risks.
• Raloxifene (Evista): This medicine, which mimics the effects of estrogen, may reduce the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. It may reduce the risk of breast cancer but, like estrogen replacement therapy, may increase the risk of blood clots.
• Denosumab (Prolia): It is used in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and in men with treatment-resistant osteoporosis. This medicine is injected into the lower abdomen or thigh every few months.
• Teriparatide (Forteo) and Abaloparatide (Tymlos): These medicines mimic the parathyroid hormone and promote new bone formation. These drugs are usually prescribed to people with severe osteoporosis, especially those who have already suffered a fracture.

Osteoporosis is a serious disease, but with early detection and appropriate treatment, you can protect your bone health and improve your quality of life. It is important to take an active role in protecting your own health. Investing in your bone health is key to maintaining your independence and mobility as you age.