Everything You Didn’t Know About Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a common disease but has deadly consequences if left untreated. 

Our bodies are constantly breaking down bone tissue and then replacing it, but the system doesn’t work properly with osteoporosis. The bones become fragile when the tissue breaks down too fast, or the body replenishes it too slowly. 

Keep reading to learn more about osteoporosis from our experienced doctors at Nevada Orthopedic and Spine Center in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada.

Osteoporosis can make you shorter 

Part of aging is losing a bit of height, which can be a sign of osteoporosis. If you lose more than an inch and a half in total or a half-inch in a year, consider being checked for osteoporosis. 

Along with the loss in height, other signs of osteoporosis include easily broken bones, back pain, and stooped posture. 

Weight-bearing exercise can help

Bones are like muscles; they become stronger in response to resistance. Weight-bearing and resistance exercises are the best for strengthening your bones. Weight-bearing exercise causes you to push, pull, or lift against to force of gravity on your body. Resistance exercises use weights to strengthen muscles and bones. Walking with weights, climbing stairs, or doing aerobics thrice weekly for 30 minutes are excellent options.

Men are more likely to die from osteoporosis

One-third of all hip fractures worldwide occur in men, with 37% of them later dying within the first year after the fracture. While it is unclear why this is the case, researchers theorize it could be because men may be more vulnerable to pre-operation complications. 

It could also be that they are more likely to have additional medical problems at the time of the fracture. 

Osteoporosis causes half of women to break bones

Women comprise 80% of osteoporosis patients, and 50% will break a bone at some point from osteoporosis. 

Women’s risk of osteoporosis-related fractures is higher than their chances of suffering from breast cancer, a heart attack, or a stroke combined. That’s why it’s important to begin early with prevention techniques to lessen your risk of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is incurable

Osteoporosis is a progressive loss of bone mass. While there’s no cure for osteoporosis, medications and lifestyle changes can control it. The most common medications are bisphosphates, which can help prevent fractures and slow down bone density loss. Medications like raloxifene that mimic estrogen can help if hormonal deficiencies are causing your bone loss.

Alongside the medications, we recommend avoiding excessive drinking and smoking, proper weight-bearing exercise, and adequate calcium levels. 

Contact us or schedule an online appointment to screen and treat your osteoporosis at Nevada Orthopedic and Spine Center.