Osteoporosis

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis translates to porous bone, which is precisely what occurs when you have this disease. Healthy bone tissue is solid and strong, but with osteoporosis, the bone loss leaves your bones porous and full of gaps.

As a result, your bones become weak, brittle, and vulnerable to fractures. Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men, and your risk increases with age.

Bone is living tissue that continuously generates new cells as old cells die. When you have osteoporosis, your new bone tissue production doesn’t keep up with your bone loss.

Your sex hormones, thyroid hormones, parathyroid, and adrenal hormones can all contribute to your risk of osteoporosis.

Your diet can also contribute to osteoporosis. For example, if you had an eating disorder or a bariatric surgery that severely limited the calories and nutrients you consumed, you have a higher chance of developing osteoporosis. Similarly, calcium deficiency is linked to low bone density.

What are the signs of osteoporosis?

The early stages of bone loss don’t cause symptoms, although as your bones become weaker, you might lose height or develop a stooped posture. Osteoporosis is also a common factor in vertebra compression fractures and back pain.

Typically, most patients don’t know they have osteoporosis until they break a bone during an everyday activity like reaching through your car window to take a parking garage ticket.

How is osteoporosis diagnosed?

A bone density or DEXA scan is the most common test to assess the health of your bones. Dr. Brett may also order a bone mineral density test.

She also performs an evaluation to identify the specific cause of your bone loss and assesses your calcium balance. These tests help Dr. Brett create a fully customized treatment plan.

How is osteoporosis treated?

Depending on the results of your bone density scans and other tests, Dr. Brett provides a personalized treatment plan, including FDA-approved treatments.

If appropriate, she prescribes medicine such as bisphosphonates, monoclonal antibody medications, and hormone-related therapy. If the standard therapies for osteoporosis aren’t effective, Dr. Brett can also prescribe bone-building medication.

At the same time, she can recommend dietary changes and supplements to ensure that you absorb all the vitamins and minerals needed to support healthy bones.

You may also benefit from physical therapy. Weight-bearing exercise can increase your bone density, and you can also practice exercises to reduce your risk of falling.

Call Elise M. Brett, MD, PC or make an appointment online today for expert treatments for osteoporosis.