Osteoporosis is one of the most common disease states affecting the elderly in the US.
This condition is a loss in bone density that results in fragile porous bones that may fracture easily.
It is most common in post-menopausal women as that is when the most rapid bone loss occurs.
Bone density is the amount of bone present in the skeleton.
The more bone present, the higher the density, and the stronger the bones.
After the age of 35, bone density starts to decrease and typical decrease in bone density after that is 0.
3 to 0.
5 percent.
In post-menopausal status, women may lose up to 4% per year with the estrogen deficiency that results.
Often, osteoporosis is not diagnosed early and becomes present silently.
It is not painful in and of itself.
Often, osteoporosis is diagnosed when fractures occur.
Most commonly, this is hip, spine, or wrist fractures.
Some patients with osteoporosis may develop a hunched appearance due to multiple vertebral fractures that cannot be fixed.
Once diagnosed, osteoporosis is not fully curable so treatment is designed to prevent further deterioration and obtain somewhat higher bone density.
Treatments are stopping smoking, cutting down on alcohol, regular weight bearing exercise, healthy diet, Vitamin D and Calcium supplements, and medications such as bisphosphonates that can assist with decreasing bone loss and even increasing existing bone density.
Once a hip fracture from osteoporosis occurs, the fatality rate within one year is 50%.
Patients are not able to ambulate like before so pneumonia is common, and a patient's health may deteriorate rapidly.
In the case of osteoporosis the best offense is a good defense, meaning preventive steps prior to it becoming a huge health problem.