Osteoporosis Overview
Osteoporosis literally means “porous bones,” and is a disease that causes bones to get weaker over time, leading to fractures. The Osteoporosis Society of Canada estimates that as many as two million Canadians suffer from the disease.
“Osteoporosis is less common in men than in women,” says Dr. Larry Dian, a geriatric specialist at the Prohealth Clinical Research Centre who is also active in the Men's Health Initiative of BC. “One in four women have osteoporosis during their lifetime, while only one in eight men will have osteoporosis during his lifetime.
“These are important differences. For example, if a woman breaks her hip, the chances of her dying in the next year are about one in 10, but if a man breaks his hip, the chances of him dying are about one in four, so osteoporosis is a different illness in men and women.”
Some of the risk factors for developing osteoporosis in men and women include:
- Aging
- Gender
- Having a family history of osteoporosis
- Being thin and having a small frame
- Being Caucasian or Asian
- Taking certain medications
- Cigarette smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Eating disorders
Some of the causes of osteoporosis are:
- A lack of hormones (estrogen in women and androgen in men)
- Inadequate intake of calcium and vitamin D
- Lack of weight-bearing exercise
“The warning signs of osteoporosis are a bit subtle,” says Dr. Dian. “Osteoporosis is a silent disease, until you break a bone.”
Treatment for osteoporosis includes a multi-disciplinary approach to managing the disease, involving diet management, exercise and perhaps medication. You may need to modify certain lifestyle behaviours, such as smoking, alcohol or caffeine consumption. Your physician will consider a number of factors before recommending the type of osteoporosis treatment that is right for you.
Are you at risk for osteoporosis? Talk to a healthcare provider near you.
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