Osteoporosis: the sneaky enemy

What Is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease in which the density and bone quality are negatively affected. Gradually, the bone becomes more porous and fragile, a process that often does not show symptoms, and the risk of fracture increases. The most common fractures due to osteoporosis occur in the hip, vertebrae and arm. Vertebral fractures often occur automatically, without any previous injure, and have significant effects such as height loss, severe back pain, kyphosis with abdominal projection and respiratory distress. Also, a hip fracture usually requires surgery, with the dangers that this entails and is likely to lead to loss of autonomy and self-care eventually. The good news is that osteoporosis is currently a manageable condition and by combining medication with some lifestyle changes many fractures will be avoided.

How is osteoporosis prevented and treated?

• Ask your doctor your risk to get osteoporosis and to calculate the risk of getting fractures from it.
• Take daily calcium and vitamin D with your diet or supplements. Your diet should be rich in protein.
• Do weight-bearing exercises, so that you can strengthen your muscles and thus reduce the risk of falling and fracture.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol abuse.
• Start treatment if you have had a hip or vertebral fracture in the past.
• Start treatment if bone mineral density suggests that you have osteoporosis (in this case the T-score in the femoral neck, the hip total or the spine is ≤ -2.5).
• Start treatment if bone mineral density is found that you have osteopenia (in this case the T-score in the femoral neck, the hip total or the spine is from -1 to -2.5) and the 10-year risk of fracture is increased according to the FRAX algorithm (≥ 3% for hip fracture and ≥ 20% for major osteoporotic fracture).
• If you are being treated for osteoporosis, the frequency of re-testing for bone density is 1-2 years after starting treatment and every two years after that.