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The most important thing you need to know about osteoporosis is this: You are very likely to get it - particularly if you're a woman. What is it? It's an extremely common condition in which the bones get thinner and thinner as you get older. This has two main results:
Why does it occur? Because CALCIUM seeps out of your bones as you get older - and that makes them thinner and weaker. There are various factors which make you more liable to osteoporosis:
Not getting enough calcium So, things you can do for yourself to help PREVENT osteoporosis include: Using Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) - if you're a woman who has passed the menopause
TREATMENT What if you've actually been DIAGNOSED as having osteoporosis? What can you do about it? Well, you should if possible use the five measures outlined above. In addition, the following treatments may well be advised by your doctor:
Treatment of osteoporosis is a complex business, and you have to be guided by your GP and hospital specialist as to what is right for YOU. Great help can be obtained by joining the National Osteoporosis Society. Contact them on 01761 471771. Very good luck to you in coping with this trying condition! Dr Delvin's 'Osteoporosis' Questions & Answers:1. Q. My Friend (who is 55) says that by taking Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) now, she can stop herself from getting osteoporosis in later life. Is this so? A. Well, it should certainly help! The reason why osteoporosis is so common in women is that the lack of female hormones after the menopause makes calcium seep out of the bones. HRT replaces the missing hormones, and so helps to keep the bones strong. But there are some (relatively small) risks with HRT, so she should talk things over with her GP before going on it. 2. Q. Are there any early signs of osteoporosis which you should look out for? A. Well really, the simplest thing is assume that we're ALL quite likely to get it - and to take preventive action, particularly by getting regular exercise. By the time you actually get SYMPTOMS of osteoporosis, the conditions is already well established. But signs include: · Loss of height · Being stooped forward · Developing a 'dowager's hump' - that is, an outward curve at the top of your spine · Aches and pains in the bones 3.Q. My mother and I both have osteoporosis. Does this mean it's hereditary? If so, what advice should I give my daughter to stop her from getting it? A. There is a hereditary tendency, so it's urgent that you warn your daughter (and, indeed, any sons!) to take preventive action as soon as possible. This means taking lots of regular exercise, getting enough calcium in the diet, avoiding smoking, and keeping alcohol intake moderate. 4. Q. Is osteoporosis a condition that only older women suffer from? A. No. Older men very often get it too. Some younger men and women get it, but that's pretty uncommon. 5. Q. I'm 70, and was prescribed steroids for polymyalgia. The steroids helped, but my bones started crumbling dramatically from osteoporosis. Could the steroids have done this? A. Sorry to hear about this. I'm afraid that osteoporosis can be one of the bad effects of long-term steroid treatment. But obviously, you had to have steroids to help your polymyalgia. This is very sad for you, but I hope that the anti-osteoporosis measures outlined in our main article will help you. Good luck. 6. Q. Once you've been diagnosed as having osteoporosis, is there a cure? If not, what can be done to prevent further damage? A. I'm afraid that it would be unusual for osteoporosis to be completely cured. But the process of bone-thinning can be stopped - and the bones made stronger - if you follow the self-help measures outlined in our main article and are given appropriate treatment. 7. Q. I have heard that light exercise helps osteoporosis, but I'm not sure how to advise my aunt - aged 68 - as to what form this should take. Any ideas please? A. Your auntie should have the right amount of exercise 'prescribed' by her doctor - depending on what she's physically capable of! But for most Senior Citizens - with or without osteoporosis - it's a good idea to have at least 25 minutes exercise every day. This can be: walking; swimming; gently 'working out' in the gym; playing golf; doing aerobics; cycling - or even line dancing or old time dancing. 8. Q. Can diet slow down osteoporosis, once it has been diagnosed? A. Well, getting more CALCIUM in your diet - e.g., from milk or cheese - can certainly help. But be guided by your GP, because having too much fatty food, such as cheese, could be bad for you. Skimmed milk is good! © 2000, 2001 Dr David Delvin/Retirement Matters Ltd. All rights reserved. Click on this text to view the GP forum archive of previous articles.
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