Bone Health:  Osteoporosis

Frequently Asked Questions relating to Osteoporosis

Over the past few years more and more information has become available about Osteoporosis; however confusion and misconceptions about the disease still exist.  In fact the overall health of our bones seems to be a mystery to many people.  In this article we will aim to quell some of the misconceptions and give answers to a number of the more frequently asked questions.  Preventative measures to avoid getting Osteoporosis will also be mentioned.

1.       Is it possible for someone to know they have Osteoporosis?

Due to the fact that Osteoporosis in itself is a painless condition it is not possible to detect whether or not you have contracted it.  It is quite common for people to discover they have Osteoporosis only after a fracture or broken bones.  Depending on the age of the person and whether or not other family members have suffered with Osteoporosis a bone density test would be carried out to determine the presence of this condition.

 

2.       Is Osteoporosis fatal? 

The answer to this question is yes Osteoporosis is potentially fatal. However, in saying that, most deaths occur due to side effects of the disease.  Of the hip fractures that are attributed to osteoporosis, around 20 percent of patients die over the subsequent six to twelve months.   Most of these fractures require surgery of some type and the deaths are generally as a result of surgical complications, pneumonia or blood clots.

 

3.    Are most people tested for Osteoporosis by their doctor?

Generally no, however, this can depend upon a number of factors.  Firstly, the thoroughness of your doctor, secondly whether there is a family history of the disease and thirdly the age of the patient.  It is a sad fact that the majority of potential osteoporosis patients will suffer an injury or broken bones before there is any medical intervention.
 

4.       Does Osteoporosis only affect small framed people?

People with small skeletal frame are certainly more susceptible to osteoporosis, but it can strike anyone.  If your family history indicates osteoporosis as being a prevalent, then you should definitely ask your doctor to arrange bone density tests and that includes any frame size large or small.  Diagnostic tests, such as  Dexa Scanning¹  can be undertaken to measure bone mineral density.
 

5.    Is there anything we can do to prevent Osteoporosis?

A very definite YES!  This is probably one of the most important question of all.

At an early age we should learn about good bone health habits, but when we are young we can’t envisage such things as Osteoporosis.  If you can influence your children to practice good bone health then you will possibly prevent them from this debilitating condition.

However, it is never too late to start.  By ensuring your diet is rich in calcium and Vitamin D and taking regular exercise, especially resistance type exercise, you can improve your chances of not suffering the effects of Osteoporosis.  You should also restrict alcohol intake and avoid smoking.  Even if you already have this condition by changing you dietary habits you can improve your condition greatly.

¹ Dual Energy X-ray Absortiometry, or DEXA scanning, is presently the most widely used method to measure bone mineral density.