Don’t bend to Osteoporosis

The 20 October was World Osteoporosis day it’s key messages conveyed this year: ’Don’t miss the signs of a breaking spine’ ...
Vertebral fractures are under-recognized and under-treated. Early diagnosis and treatment prevent the fracture cascade and three major signs of vertebral fractures are height loss, back pain, and a stoop.

As the for O’s in osteoporosis suggest it means holes in bones or simply translates as porous bones or brittle bones. Bones are constantly built and absorbed, the balance being in favour of bone production til the age of 45 when bone absorption and therefore bone weakening begins to take the upper hand, eventually leading to osteoporosis. 2 million Australians have Osteoporosis and about 40 Australians break their hips daily, often leading to prolonged hospital stay , rehabilitation , nursing home admission or even death.

The “Australian Doctor” reported recently that 60% of women and 30% of men over age 60 have OP and noteworthy that up to 90 % of men with OP over age 70 haven’t got their condition recognized. Men also often fair worse if it comes to complications of a osteoporotic fracture. We need to do better in detecting osteoporosis before fracture and also prevent it’s occurrence in the Ist place.
Men and women with any fracture to minor trauma but also if they have other risk factors or are older than 70 should have their bone density risk assessed by their GP and bone density measured by fixed outpatient measurement or mobile units.
Osteoporosis is unfortunately silent til a fracture occurs and simple x-rays only show up signs very late. Particular risks are: women around or with early menopause, fractures to minor trauma , strong family history, steroid medications, smokers , increased alcohol consume, poor Calcium and Vitamin D intake, underweight, sedentary lifestyle and certain medical conditions like overactive thyroid, Insuline diabetes.
The other priority is lifelong prevention with appropriate Vitamin D and Calcium intake, regular exercise, alcohol intake under recommended limits, non smoking and funnily enough regular sun exposure to metabolize precursors to Vitamin D. A good diet contains milk, cheese, yoghurt, dark leafy green vegetables, tinned salmon and sardines with bones.
There are a number of treatments now available to slow bone resorption or even reverse it, including Calcium + Vitamin D , Bisphosphonates, Strontium , HRT and hormone modulators. With a positive bonescan you require discussion of prevention and treatment , need to consider measures to prevent falls and accidents and will need to have regular checks of bone density to monitor treatment.


Sources:
www.osteoporosis.org.au
www.iofbonehealth.org international osteoporosis foundation
www.abc.net.au/health
www.patient.co.uk
www.gpnotebook.co.uk