Osteoporosis
What is it
Osteoporosis literally means ‘porous bones’. It is a skeletal disorder in which bones become fragile and more likely to break (fracture). If not prevented or left untreated osteoporosis can progress painlessly until the time of fracture. Osteoporosis is a major public health problem for men and women and is not just a concern for older individuals, younger people can, and do, develop the disease. Women are, however, more at risk of developing the disease than men due to smaller bone size and density and the onset of the menopause. 1:3 women and 1:12 men aged over 50 years will suffer from an osteoporosis fracture in the UK. An estimated 3 million people in the UK suffer from the disease but only 1/3rd of people with spinal fractures caused by osteoporosis come to medical attention. Currently osteoporosis costs the NHS £1.7 billion each year and this figure is rapidly increasing.
Who is at Risk
There are many factors that can increase the risk of osteoporosis. If you fall into any of these categories you may be more at risk:- Menopause - before age 45 years (including early hysterectomy)
- Family History
- Previous Fracture - increased risk if fracture occurred over age 50 years
- Lifestyle - immobility or lack of exercise, smoking, excess alcohol use
- Males - low testosterone levels increase the risk
- Gender and Race - thin, white and Asian women have increased risk
- Age - bones become weaker with increased age (>60 years)
- Missed Period - 6 months or more (excluding pregnancy)
- Diseases - anorexia nervosa, bulimia, malabsorption, crohns, hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism
- Medications - long term use of corticosteroids, antacids, anticonvulsants, heparin
Prevention
Although there is no cure for osteoporosis the great news is that it can be prevented and it is never too early to start protecting your bone strength:- A balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D
- Weight bearing exercise
- A healthy lifestyle with no smoking or excess alcohol use
- Regular bone testing
Eat a balanced diet with plenty of calcium. Choose a wide variety of food from the different food groups: milk and dairy products; bread and cereals; fruit and vegetables; meat; fish and poultry, to form a well balanced calcium-rich diet. Take regular, weight bearing exercise which exerts a loading impact and stretches and contracts the muscle, stimulating bones to strengthen.
How do I know if I have Osteoporosis
The first signs of osteoporosis can be detected at a young age. 1 in 3 women and
1 in 12 men aged over 50 years are affected by the disease and
will suffer a fracture because of osteoporosis.
Many people are not diagnosed until it's too late.
There are several tests that can be done.
Ultrasound Bone Scanning:
Ultrasound bone scanning is a harmless and up-to-date
screening method using sound waves (instead of x-rays).
The heel of the foot is used for assessment and the information is important for
determining fracture risk. It can detect up to 90% of all patients at risk from
osteoporosis and takes about a minute. The Ultrasound Heel Scanner calculates the bone strength and indicates whether
the density shows early signs of osteoporosis. It is a fast and harmless test with
immediate results, so treatment can be started early if needed.
We
run Osteoporosis Clinics using the ultrasound scanner in our practices.
The cost includes screening, a copy of the results, an osteoporosis information package and advice.
Look out for details in local press or ring our Taunton Clinic on 01823 333973
for more information on dates.
MRI Scans:
If necessary arrangements can be made through our chiropractors for patients to have an MRI Scan at a reasonable cost at the Somerset MRI Unit in Bridgwater.