As bones get thinner and weaker, the risk of fracture increases. Symptoms of severe osteoporosis can include a fracture from a fall or even from a strong sneeze or cough. They can also include back or neck pain, or loss of height. Back or neck pain or loss of height can be caused by a compression fracture.
This is a break in one of the vertebrae in your neck or back, which is so weak that it breaks under the normal pressure in your spine. If you do have a fracture from osteoporosis, how long it takes to heal will depend on many factors. These include where the fracture is, how severe it is, as well as your age and health history.
To understand osteoporosis, it can help to see what normal bone looks like versus bone affected by osteoporosis. Possible causes of osteoporosis include certain medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism. They also include the use of certain medications.
Examples of these medications include long-term oral or injected corticosteroids such as prednisone or cortisone. The biggest risk factor of osteoporosis is age. Throughout your life, your body breaks down old bone and grows new bone.
Menopause is another primary risk factor, which occurs in women around the ages of 45 to 55 years. Men continue to lose bone at this age, but at a slower rate than women do. However, by the time they reach the ages of 65 to 70, women and men are usually losing bone at the same rate.
You can control some of these risk factors for osteoporosis, such as poor nutrition and inactivity. For instance, you can improve your diet and start an exercise program can benefit your bone health. You may have heard of senile osteoporosis. As mentioned above, age is a primary risk factor of osteoporosis. According to global statistics from the International Osteoporosis Foundation , about one-tenth of women aged 60 have osteoporosis, while two-fifths of women aged 80 have the disease.
To check for osteoporosis, your doctor will review your medical history and do a physical exam. They may also run tests of your blood and urine to check for conditions that may cause bone loss.
It uses X-rays to measure the density of the bones in your wrists, hips, or spine. These are the three areas most at risk of osteoporosis. This painless test can take from 10 to 30 minutes. If your testing shows that you have osteoporosis, your doctor will work with you to create a treatment plan.
Your doctor will likely prescribe medications as well as lifestyle changes. These lifestyle changes can include increasing your intake of calcium and vitamin D , as well as getting appropriate exercise. These treatments can help slow the breakdown of bone in your body, and some treatments can spur the growth of new bone.
The most common drugs used to treat osteoporosis are called bisphosphonates. Bisphosphonates are used to prevent the loss of bone mass. They may be taken orally or by injection. They include:. In men, testosterone therapy may help increase bone density. For women, estrogen used during and after menopause can help stop bone density loss. Unfortunately, estrogen therapy has also been associated with increased risk of blood clots, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. This medication has been found to provide the benefits of estrogen without many of the risks, although there is still an increased risk of blood clots.
This drug is taken by injection and may prove even more promising than bisphosphonates at reducing bone loss. This drug is taken as a nasal spray and reduces bone reabsorption. This will be based on a number of factors such as your age, sex and the results of your bone density scan. If you need treatment, your doctor can suggest the safest and most effective treatment plan for you. If you're at risk of developing osteoporosis, you should take steps to help keep your bones healthy.
This may include:. If you're diagnosed with osteoporosis, there are steps you can take to reduce your chances of a fall, such as removing hazards from your home and having regular sight tests and hearing tests.
Speak to your GP or nurse if you're worried about living with a long-term condition. They may be able to answer any questions you have. You may also find it helpful to talk to a trained counsellor or psychologist, or other people with the condition. The Royal Osteoporosis Society can put you in touch with local support groups. It can put you in touch with local support groups. It also has a free telephone helpline that may be particularly helpful if you're newly diagnosed with osteoporosis.
Our guide to care and support explains your options and where you can get support. Page last reviewed: 18 June Next review due: 18 June The most common injuries in people with osteoporosis are: broken wrist broken hip broken spinal bones vertebrae However, breaks can also happen in other bones, such as in the arm or pelvis.
Osteoporosis can be treated with bone strengthening medicines. Bone loss before osteoporosis osteopenia The stage before osteoporosis is called osteopenia. Osteopenia does not always lead to osteoporosis.
It depends on many factors. Who's affected by osteoporosis? Osteoporosis affects over 3 million people in the UK. These people can be given ibandronate or zoledronic acid intravenously.
In addition, the following people should not take bisphosphonates:. At this time, doctors do not know how long people should take bisphosphonates. Most people need to take these drugs for 3 or 6 years, and some people may need to take them for up to 10 years. How long people need to take a bisphosphonate is determined by the doctor and is based on a person's medical condition and risk factors for fracture.
During and after treatment with a bisphosphonate, doctors usually do periodic tests to determine whether bone mass is decreasing. If bone mass is decreasing after stopping a bisphosphonate, treatment with a bisphosphonate or another drug may be restarted.
Osteonecrosis of the jaw Osteonecrosis of the Jaw Osteonecrosis of the jaw is an oral disorder that involves exposure of the jaw bone. Osteonecrosis of the jaw can occur after tooth extraction, injury, radiation therapy, or for no apparent In this condition, the jaw bone heals poorly, particularly in people who have had invasive dental work involving the jaw bone.
People who take bisphosphonates intravenously, who have had radiation therapy to the head and neck to treat cancer, or a combination are at highest risk. However, it is not truly clear whether bisphosphonates cause osteonecrosis of the jaw and, if they do, which particular drugs are most likely to cause it. There is no evidence that stopping bisphosphonates before having dental work prevents osteonecrosis. The risk of developing osteonecrosis of the jaw is exceptionally low in people taking bisphosphonates, and the likely benefits of treating osteoporosis to prevent bone fractures usually far outweigh the potential risks.
When used as prescribed, bisphosphonates prevent many more fractures than cases of osteonecrosis of the jaw they might cause. Long-term use of bisphosphonates may increase the risk of developing unusual fractures of the thighbone femur. To reduce the risk of these fractures, doctors may have people stop taking bisphosphonates for 1 to 2 years or longer. These planned periods of time are called bisphosphonate holidays or drug holidays.
How long a bisphosphonate holiday lasts is carefully considered by doctors. Doctors base the decision on certain factors such as a person's age, DXA scan results, whether they have had fractures, and how likely they are to have a fall. People who are on a bisphosphonate holiday should be routinely monitored for decreasing bone density.
Because the risk of fracture does increase while people are on a drug holiday, doctors try to balance the benefits of the bisphosphonates with the possible side effects. Overall, when used as prescribed, the benefits of bisphosphonates in preventing bone fractures far outweigh the potential risks. Calcitonin , which inhibits the breakdown of bone, is another drug that can be used for treatment but is not prescribed frequently. Calcitonin has not been shown to reduce fracture risk, but it can help relieve pain caused by vertebral fractures.
Calcitonin is usually taken by nasal spray. Its use can decrease blood levels of calcium, so these levels must be monitored. Hormonal therapy for example, with estrogen helps maintain bone density in women and can be used for prevention or treatment. This therapy is most effective when started within 4 to 6 years after menopause, but starting it later can still slow bone loss and reduce the risk of fractures.
However, because the risks of hormonal therapy may exceed its benefits for many women, hormonal therapy is usually not the treatment option used. Decisions about using estrogen replacement therapy after menopause are complex see Hormone Therapy for Menopause Hormone Therapy for Menopause Menopause is the permanent end of menstrual periods and thus of fertility.
Raloxifene is an estrogen -like drug that may be useful in preventing and treating bone loss, but it does not have some of estrogen's negative side effects. Raloxifene is used in people who cannot or prefer not to take bisphosphonates.
Raloxifene can reduce the risk of vertebral fractures and may reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer Extent of spread Breast cancer occurs when cells in the breast become abnormal and divide uncontrollably. Breast cancer usually starts in the glands that produce milk lobules or the tubes ducts that carry Men do not benefit from estrogen but may benefit from testosterone replacement therapy if their testosterone level is low.
Denosumab is similar to the bisphosphonates Drugs Osteoporosis is a condition in which a decrease in the density of bones weakens the bones, making breaks fractures likely. Denosumab is given as an injection under the skin in a doctor's office two times a year. Like bisphosphonates, denosumab very rarely causes osteonecrosis of the jaw and may increase the risk of developing unusual fractures of the thighbone. Denosumab has been studied in patients with chronic kidney disease and, with appropriate monitoring, has been found to be safe to use.
People taking denosumab should not miss doses or undergo a drug holiday because delayed doses or stopping this drug may cause a loss in bone density and may increase the risk of vertebral fractures.
Romosozumab increases bone density in the hip and lumbar spine and reduces the risk of fracture in postmenopausal women. Romosozumab is given as an injection once a month for 1 year. People should not take romosozumab within 12 months after having had a heart attack or stroke.
Anabolic agents teriparatide and abaloparatide increase the formation of new bone, increase bone density, and decrease the likelihood of fractures. Teriparatide a synthetic form of parathyroid hormone and abaloparatide a drug similar to parathyroid hormone are self-injected daily. This therapy is used in some people who. Back pain resulting from a vertebral compression fracture Compression Fractures of the Spine In a compression fracture of the spine, the drum-shaped part body of one or more back bones vertebrae collapses into itself and becomes squashed compressed into a wedge shape.
Such treatment makes movement easier and enables people to participate more fully in rehabilitation. Techniques used include People may be given calcitonin to decrease the pain caused by vertebral fractures. Exercises to strengthen muscles in the back may help relieve chronic back pain. After a fracture, people should usually avoid bed rest and heavy lifting. As soon as they are able, people should do weight-bearing exercises Weight-bearing exercise Osteoporosis is a condition in which a decrease in the density of bones weakens the bones, making breaks fractures likely.
Fractures resulting from osteoporosis must be treated. For hip fractures Hip Fractures Hip fractures may occur in the round upper end head of the thighbone, in the narrow part of the thighbone just below the head neck , or in the bumps in the broader area just below the neck Surgery may be needed for a wrist fracture Wrist Fractures Wrist fractures may involve the lower end of one or both of the forearm bones radius or ulna or, less often, a bone in the base of the hand.
Additionally, people who have had an osteoporosis-related fracture should be treated with an osteoporosis drug and should make sure they consume adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D Calcium and vitamin D Osteoporosis is a condition in which a decrease in the density of bones weakens the bones, making breaks fractures likely. A collapsed vertebra can be repaired by a procedure called vertebroplasty.
In this procedure, which takes about an hour for each vertebra, a material called methyl methacrylate MMA —an acrylic bone cement—is injected into the collapsed vertebra, helping to relieve pain and reduce deformity.
Kyphoplasty is a similar procedure, in which a small balloon is used to expand the vertebra before the injection of the MMA. With vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, deformity may be reduced in the MMA-injected bone, but the risk of fractures in adjacent bones in the spine or ribs does not decrease and may even increase. Other risks may include rib fractures, cement leakage, and possibly heart or lung problems. When these procedures should be done has not been clearly determined. The following English-language resource may be useful.
The National Osteoporosis Foundation. Merck and Co. From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world. The Manual was first published in as a service to the community. Learn more about our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Common Health Topics.
Types of Osteoporosis. Primary osteoporosis Secondary osteoporosis Idiopathic osteoporosis. Bone density testing Other tests.
Calcium and vitamin D Weight-bearing exercise Drugs Treatment of pain and fractures. More Information. Test your knowledge. Reactive arthritis causes inflammation of the joints and the tendon attachments at the joints. In which of the following organs is such an infection most likely to occur? More Content. Osteoporosis By Marcy B. Click here for the Professional Version.
Fractures can occur with little or no force and may occur after a minor fall. Loss of Bone Density in Women In women, bone density or mass progressively increases until about age 30, when bones are at their strongest.
Risk Factors for Primary Osteoporosis Family members with osteoporosis. Did You Know Bone density testing. All women age 65 or older.
0コメント