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Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is loss of bone mass caused by too little calcium. Without enough calcium, bones become weak and brittle, and the risk for fracture is increased.

Osteoporosis is a gradual deterioration of bone mass which usually starts around age forty. Women are more susceptible to osteoporosis than men because they tend to have much smaller bones.

Osteoporosis is common after menopause because of the decease of the female hormone estrogen in a woman's body. Women who have gone through menopause or have had a hysterectomy where the ovaries have been removed are at risk because the ovaries produce estrogen which promotes calcium growth. When the ovaries are removed or quit producing estrogen, the chance of bone loss becomes more prevalent.

Although women are at higher risk for osteoporosis, men can be affected also. Men with one or more of the risk factors listed below should talk to their healthcare provider regarding bone density testing.

Loss of bone density can be caused by several factors:

• Menopause
• Family history
• Caucasian or Asian descent
• Thin or small build
• Smoking
• Too much alcohol
• Too little exercise
• Too little calcium (now or as a child)
• Certain medications

CRMC's Women's Imaging Center has the capabilities to measure the mineral content in bones to determine risk of fracture and osteoporosis using a machine called a DEXA scanner, which determines the amount of calcium in the bone. This test is called a bone mineral assessment (BMA).

Establishing an individual's baseline for the amount of calcium in the bones makes it easier for a physician to help prevent osteoporosis in the future.

If the test results indicate osteoporosis is present, the physician can follow changes in the disease to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.

Each DEXA scan takes approximately 15-30 minutes to complete. One of the advantages to the bone mineral density scan is that there is no preparation necessary, no drinking solutions, injections, or fasting.

For a spine study, in some cases, the radiology technologist may first do a regular x-ray of the spine before starting the bone mineral density scan.

The scan is easy and painless. You will lie on the scan table, with a pillow under your knees to help flatten your back. The scan arm will move back and forth over your abdomen.

When the scan is complete, the computer will print out the results of the scan for interpretation by a radiologist, rheumatologist, or an enterologist, who has been specially trained to interpret the scans.

The hip or spine, or both may be scanned on the initial test because in the early stages of osteoporosis, the disease is more easily detected in these areas of the body.

Q: What is osteoporosis?
A: Osteoporosis, or "fragile bone" disease, is a silent condition affecting some 25 million Americans, most of them women.

All of us lose some bone as we age, but people with osteoporosis lose an excessive amount. Their bones become fragile and weak to the point where even a minor fall can result in fracture.

Q: Do I have osteoporosis?
A: Talk with your healthcare provider. The following factors may add to post-menopausal risk, although it is possible to have osteoporosis when none of these risk factors are present.

• A family history of osteoporosis (older relatives who have had fractures, have stooped posture, or have lost height).
• Early menopause (before age 45).
• A previous broken bone that might have been the result of osteoporosis.
• A thin or small build.
• Use of certain medications, such as steroids and thyroid hormones.
• Smoking.
• Drinking too much alcohol.
• Not getting a great deal of exercise.
• Not getting enough calcium (even as a child).

Menopause is the single most important risk factor for osteoporosis.

Q: Is osteoporosis a special problem for women?
A: Yes.

Although women are at higher risk for osteoporosis, men can be affected also. Twenty-five million Americans, 80 percent of them women, have osteoporosis.

A woman's risk of hip fracture is equal to the combined lifetime risk of developing breast, uterine and ovarian cancer.

The frequency of hip fracture in women is three times that in men.

Q: How can I take better care of my bones?
A: Although there is no cure for osteoporosis, there are several things you can do to prevent further bone loss.

• Exercise like walking, aerobics, dancing and team sports strengthen bones.
• Get proper amounts of calcium and vitamin D daily.
• Stop smoking
• Talk to your physician.

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