Osteoporosis is a progressive disease in which you lose bone cells and mass at a greater rate than you can replace them. In the United States, half of the women over age 50 will eventually fracture a bone due to osteoporosis.
Women are more at risk for osteoporosis than men are because they tend to have a smaller frame and thinner bones. But men aren’t immune to osteoporosis either. They’re especially susceptible as they lose the hormone testosterone due to aging or disease.
Our board-certified rheumatologists and team at the Rheumatology Center of New Jersey, want you to keep as much bone as you can for as long as possible. We diagnose, treat, and offer prevention advice for osteoporosis at our offices in Monroe, Flemington, and Somerville, New Jersey.
How high is your risk for osteoporosis? Answer the following questions.
Although you may have a healthy body weight and are physically fit, if you were born with thin bones or a small frame, you have an elevated risk for osteoporosis. Your bones, at the start, already had less mass than those with medium to large frames.
Another risk factor you have no control over is your race. Women and men of white or Asian descent are more susceptible to osteoporosis and subsequent fracture simply because of their ethnicity.
White and Asian people tend to have smaller frames and lighter bones than those of African or Mexican descent. The increased risk (or increased protection) applies to both women and men.
Aging and the downshift in hormones associated with that process is a major risk factor for osteoporosis. In women, the loss of estrogen and some testosterone slows down bone production. In men, the loss of testosterone does the same.
Although menopause and andropause are highly associated with osteoporosis and hormone declines, you may lose beneficial hormones due to other factors.
For instance, young women who overexercise may lower their estrogen levels to the point where they no longer menstruate, which raises their risk of bone loss.
Cutting out food groups that contain calcium and other minerals, or limiting protein in your diet can interfere with your ability to generate new bone cells. Emphasize healthy proteins, vegetables, and low-glycemic fruits while avoiding processed foods, trans-fats, and sugar.
The best exercise for your bones are those that put as much stress on them as safety allows (as long as you’ve been cleared for that activity by your rheumatologist). Lifting very heavy weights not only helps to build new bone cells, but it also creates a bonus: more muscle mass.
Increases in muscle mass put more tension on the bones to which they’re attached. Therefore, when you become more muscular, you’re actually exercising your bones even when your muscles are at rest.
High-impact aerobics — such as running, jumping, and dancing — also help you produce more bone mass. But you can overdo it: Overtraining can eventually thin out your bones.
Certain medical conditions, as well as medications used to treat them, may rob your bones of minerals. Medical conditions associated with bone loss include:
Medications that may accelerate bone loss include:
Talk to your rheumatologist about how to treat your medical condition while protecting your bones.
No matter how well you eat and how often you exercise, you can sabotage your bone health with substance abuse.
If your grandparents, parents, or siblings have broken bones, you may be at increased risk, too. Your own history also matters. A prior fracture is associated with increased risk for a future one.
Get a handle on your bone status now by booking a bone-density scan. Recommendations for a first scan include:
If you’re at higher risk due to a medical condition or other risk factors, you may want to start earlier than the recommendations. Don’t have a bone scan more than every other year.
Do you need to know your bone status or are you looking to slow down or stop bone loss? Contact our office nearest you for an osteoporosis consultation today.
