What is Osteoporosis? Its Symptoms and What You Can Do About Them

What Is Osteoporosis? Osteoporosis, also known as porous bones, or bone-density disease, describes the weakening of the bones to the point where they become brittle and easily fractured.

It’s characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue, which results in weak and porous bones that are more likely to break than healthy bones.

As you age, your bones naturally lose mass, so people over the age of 50 are at greater risk for osteoporosis-related fractures compared to younger adults.

Defining osteoporosis

To diagnose osteoporosis, a doctor will usually measure bone density with a test called a DEXA scan. This measures bone mineral density, which can be compared with that of an average 30-year-old.

The World Health Organization divides people into four groups according to their BMD score. A score greater than or equal to -1.0 means your bones are normal.

Between -1.0 and -2.5 is classified as osteopenia, meaning porous bones in Greek: you have low bone mass but not enough to be diagnosed as having osteoporosis yet.

Anything below -2.5 is considered osteoporosis, where your bones are very weak and brittle. If you’re over 50 years old, there’s a good chance your doctor has already told you that you have it.

According to statistics from WHO (the World Health Organization), 1 out of every 4 women over 50 has been diagnosed with osteoporosis.

The causes of osteoporosis

Although it can sometimes develop as a result of chronic conditions such as cancer, heart disease, renal problem, or rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis mainly occurs as a side effect of aging.

As we age, our bones lose calcium at an increasingly rapid rate. Over time, bones can become so fragile that they fracture even from seemingly minor injuries.

However, there are things you can do to prevent and reverse osteoporosis before it takes hold in your body.   

Many studies have shown that adopting healthy lifestyle habits may help increase bone density.

Exercise regularly. Eat a diet rich in nutrients like magnesium and vitamin D. Quit smoking (cigarettes greatly reduce bone density).

Reduce stress (stress hormones negatively impact calcium absorption). Practice good posture throughout the day

Avoid excessive alcohol consumption If you notice symptoms of osteoporosis early on—like brittle bones or frequent fractures—you should see your doctor right away.

Many physicians recommend routine bone density tests for people over 50 who are at risk for developing osteoporosis because these tests allow doctors to detect bone loss while it’s still treatable.

The symptoms of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis can cause pain in one area of your body or a general feeling of soreness.

In case of severe osteoporosis, the patient presents with fractures. Common sites for osteoporotic fractures include the wrist, hip, and spine. Humpback deformity is due to vertebra fractures at different levels.

Your doctor will discuss all available options with you based on your specific case history and medical needs.

When to seek medical advice

If you're experiencing frequent back pain, neck pain, or chest pain that doesn't go away with rest, you should talk to your doctor about it.

Several conditions can cause back pain, including injuries, arthritis, tumors, and osteoporosis. Even when those conditions are ruled out through medical tests and evaluations, your physician may recommend physical therapy or other forms of treatment to help ease the pain.

If you are diagnosed with osteoporosis — a disease that causes bones to become brittle — your doctor may suggest certain lifestyle changes as well as medications or treatments such as calcium supplements or hormone therapies to help protect your bones.

How to treat osteoporosis

There are plenty of things you can do to treat osteoporosis. First, focus on making lifestyle changes that will help strengthen your bones.

Treatment for osteoporosis includes nutraceuticals like calcium, vitamin D, medications that increase bone density, hormone therapy (for women), and bisphosphonates (medications that slow down bone loss).

These treatments can help strengthen bones so they are less likely to break from minor falls or other injuries.

Your primary care doctor may prescribe drugs like Alendronate or Risedronate, which stop bone destruction and help prevent further bone loss.

Osteoporosis treatment

Other drugs include Teriparatide which is a hormone that helps to increase bone mass. Strontium is a mineral that helps in bone formation and mineralization, therefore, becomes stronger.

For patients with advanced osteoporosis with fractures, treatment can include vertebroplasty, which is often used for pain relief or surgical fixation of the fracture.

In vertebroplasty, bone cement is injected with a needle or surgical device that supports fractured vertebrae. Many times osteoporotic hip fracture is treated by hemiarthroplasty ( prosthetic joint).

The goal of all these treatments is to improve quality of life by reducing pain and increasing mobility.

How to prevent osteoporosis

Preventing osteoporosis starts with a healthy diet. Eating foods rich in calcium (milk, yogurt, cheese) and vitamin D (eggs, salmon, spinach) will help to build bone mass.

Lifting weights can also be a great way to prevent or even reverse bone loss: that’s because weight-bearing exercises are good for both muscle development and bone density.

If you’re going through menopause, regular exercise can reduce your risk of osteoporosis by up to 45 percent.

And one final tip: don’t smoke! Studies show that smoking leads to more rapid bone loss than lack of exercise does.

Tips for people with low bone density

While it's true that some factors are out of your control, there are several things you can do to protect yourself from osteoporosis.

First, make sure you get enough calcium, vitamin D, and weight-bearing exercise. Second, avoid bad habits like smoking; studies have shown that smokers tend to lose bone faster than non-smokers do.

Finally, see your doctor if you’re having problems or think something might be wrong; if left untreated for too long osteoporosis can result in fractures—which aren't just painful but also dangerous because they could lead to death or disability.

Good health isn't just about how you feel right now: It's about avoiding problems down the road. Your bones depend on it!

N.B – The content provided is for information and education purposes only.