Our bones are alive and constantly growing. Bones never stop changing as you age – the cells go through their life cycle and die or are consumed and new cells are created in their place, in a process known as remodeling. As we progressively get older, the breakdown or remodeling of our bones becomes imbalanced and the bones begin to tear down faster than they can rebuild.
Possible Causes Include:
- Loss of estrogen
- Aging
- Hysterectomy
- Vitamin D Deficiency
- Calcium Deficiency
- Continual glucocorticoid treatment
- Parathyroid Hormone dysfunction
Who Is a Candidate for Osteoporosis Treatment?
Guidelines for testing
>65 yo
- Postmenopausal with medical causes of bone loss (regardless of age)
- Steroid use
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Post menopausal women with a fragility fracture
- Fracture from a fall from standing height or less
>50 yo with one of more of the following
- Fracture after menopause (not skull, facial bone, ankle, finger, or toe)
- Body Weight <127 lbs
- BMI <21
- History of hip fracture in parent
- Current smoker
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Alcohol intake of >2 servings per day
- Servings
- 12oz Beer
- 4oz glass of wine
- 1oz liquor
- Servings
SIGNS YOU NEED TO RECEIVE TREATMENT
DEXAScan or Bone Density Test which shows Osteopenia or Osteoporosis
How Is Osteoporosis Treated?
- Medications
- Biphosphonates, SERMS, RANKL Antibodies, Estrogens
- Vitamin Supplementation
- Weight Bearing Exercise
- Hormone Replacement Therapy