What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a chronic disease that affects the health of your bones. With age and due to underlying medical conditions like a hormone imbalance, your bones weaken. You can also develop osteoporosis due to poor nutrition and a lack of calcium in your diet.
Bone is always breaking down and new, healthy bone replaces it. When you have osteoporosis, your body can’t produce sufficient amounts of replacement bone, increasing your risk of fractures and other health complications.
What are other risk factors for osteoporosis?
In addition to age and inadequate nutrition, you could be at increased risk of osteoporosis due to:
- Arthritis
- Menopause
- Kidney disease
- Thyroid disorder
- Long-term steroid use
Your lifestyle can also raise your risk of osteoporosis, especially if you smoke, frequently drink alcohol, or lack daily physical activity.
What are the signs and symptoms of osteoporosis?
In the earliest stages of bone loss, you might not show signs that something is wrong. But as your bones continue to weaken and become more porous, you could experience symptoms like:
- Back pain
- Bent posture
- Loss of height
Most commonly, those with osteoporosis are prone to bone fractures, due to minor injuries or falls.
How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
Based on your medical history, family history, and your symptoms, Dr. Rao will request a bone density test to confirm an osteoporosis diagnosis.
This test uses low-level X-rays to evaluate the mineral content of your bones. The testing process is painless and often focuses on the bones most commonly affected by osteoporosis, including:
Dr. Rao and her staff also perform a physical exam, testing your body for strength, mobility, and flexibility.
What treatments are available for osteoporosis?
Your custom treatment plan focuses on preventing bone fractures. Using the data from your bone density test, Dr. Rao can recommend the best course of treatment.
Osteoporosis medications are available to reduce your risk for bone fractures if your condition is advanced.
For some women, osteoporosis progresses quickly due to the loss of estrogen during and after menopause, the time when menstrual periods stop for good. In these cases, Dr. Rao will recommend treatment with hormone replacement therapy to slow the progression of the disease and protect your overall bone health.
Slow the progression of osteoporosis with the help of a custom treatment plan from Prima Medicine. You can schedule a consultation today, online or by phone, to learn more about treatments.
