It's Osteoporosis: It's Osteoporosis:

Not Old AgeNot Old Age

Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis: The silent disease. The silent disease.

What is it? What is it?

A disease that weakens bones to A disease that weakens bones to the point that even simple, the point that even simple, everyday activities can cause them everyday activities can cause them to break. Osteoporosis can to break. Osteoporosis can permanently change the way you permanently change the way you live, work and enjoy your life by live, work and enjoy your life by causing crippling fractures.causing crippling fractures.

Bones…What Are They Like?Bones…What Are They Like?

• The inside of a boneThe inside of a bone– spongyspongy

– honeycomb likehoneycomb like

– living tissueliving tissue

– constantly changing (remodeling)constantly changing (remodeling)

Living Tissues in BonesLiving Tissues in Bones• Bones are constantly Bones are constantly

being broken down and being broken down and rebuilt (remodeling).rebuilt (remodeling).– Special cells, osteoclasts, Special cells, osteoclasts,

remove old bone and remove old bone and create a cavitycreate a cavity

– Other cells, osteoblasts, fill Other cells, osteoblasts, fill in the cavity with new bone in the cavity with new bone tissuetissue

“Bonerupt”When osteoblasts do not have enough calcium, they cannot fill the cavity; the results are

holes in the bones…thus going

broke…

Osteoporosis: Porous Bones Osteoporosis: Porous Bones

• With out the calcium the holes get With out the calcium the holes get bigger bigger – Bones get weaker and fragileBones get weaker and fragile

– Back bones crack, humps/ curves startBack bones crack, humps/ curves start

– Breaks occur with everyday activities… Breaks occur with everyday activities… carrying groceries, picking up carrying groceries, picking up grandchildren, turning over in bed…...grandchildren, turning over in bed…...

Osteoporosis not just for Osteoporosis not just for women anymorewomen anymore

• More women have osteoporosis More women have osteoporosis because:because:– Smaller, lighter bones generallySmaller, lighter bones generally

– Menopause stops estrogen’s protective Menopause stops estrogen’s protective effect on the boneseffect on the bones

– However, men have osteoporosis too.However, men have osteoporosis too.

Why do we develop it?Why do we develop it?

• Lifestyle habits can lead to Lifestyle habits can lead to osteoporosis.osteoporosis.– DietDiet- low in calcium, - low in calcium,

high protein, high salthigh protein, high salt

– Physical ActivityPhysical Activity- sedentary - sedentary

– SmokingSmoking

– Drinking alcoholDrinking alcohol

LifestyleYou can

prevent osteoporosis by choosing

healthy lifestyle habits

Who is at risk?Who is at risk?

Risk FactorsRisk Factors: :

• A family history of osteoporosisA family history of osteoporosis

• Early menopause (before 45 years old)Early menopause (before 45 years old)

• A previous broken bone that might A previous broken bone that might have been the result of have been the result of osteoporosisosteoporosis

• Caucasian or Asian descentCaucasian or Asian descent

• Thin or small buildThin or small build

Risk Factors Continued…..Risk Factors Continued…..

• Using certain medicines, such as Using certain medicines, such as steroids used for asthma and arthritis steroids used for asthma and arthritis and thyroid hormonesand thyroid hormones

• SmokingSmoking

• Drinking alcoholDrinking alcohol

• Lack of physical activityLack of physical activity

• Low calcium intakeLow calcium intake

Prevent Osteoporosis or Prevent Osteoporosis or Stop It From Getting WorseStop It From Getting Worse

• CalciumCalcium

– 1200-1500 mg 1200-1500 mg DAILYDAILY

– Food sources Food sources include: low fat include: low fat milk, yogurt, milk, yogurt, cheese, some cheese, some greens, soy foods, greens, soy foods, sardines with bonessardines with bones

• Vitamin DVitamin D

– Helps calcium work!Helps calcium work!

– Food sources Food sources include: milk include: milk products, eggs, products, eggs, fortified products, fortified products, sun lightsun light

Physical ActivityPhysical Activity

Weight bearing exercises can help Weight bearing exercises can help build and maintain strong bones. build and maintain strong bones. These exercises force your muscles These exercises force your muscles and skeleton to work against gravity and skeleton to work against gravity to make them stronger. Examples to make them stronger. Examples are: walking, jogging, racquet are: walking, jogging, racquet sports, hiking, dancing, and stair sports, hiking, dancing, and stair climbing.climbing.

Additional Benefits From Additional Benefits From Physical ActivityPhysical Activity

• Improves overall balance and Improves overall balance and flexibility which helps prevent falls flexibility which helps prevent falls when you stumble.when you stumble.

• Bone strengthening activities last Bone strengthening activities last only as long as you continue with only as long as you continue with the exercise program. the exercise program.

If it is a silent disease, If it is a silent disease, how do I know if I have how do I know if I have osteoporosis?osteoporosis?

• Bone Density MeasurementsBone Density Measurements

• Screening machines (foot, arm, Screening machines (foot, arm, finger)finger)

• Scanning (whole body scans)Scanning (whole body scans)

Medicare Pays For Bone Medicare Pays For Bone Scans Scans

• Estrogen deficient women Estrogen deficient women

• Persons with previous spine fracturesPersons with previous spine fractures

• Persons using prednisone or steroid type Persons using prednisone or steroid type medication medication

• Persons with hyperthyroidism (a metabolic Persons with hyperthyroidism (a metabolic disorder) disorder)

• Persons being treated forPersons being treated for osteoporosisosteoporosis

What are treatment What are treatment options if I have options if I have osteoporosis?osteoporosis?

• EstrogenEstrogen

• CalcitoninCalcitonin

• Fosamax* (alendronate)Fosamax* (alendronate)

• Evista* (raloxifene)Evista* (raloxifene)

• New options developingNew options developing

Prevention is the keyPrevention is the keyToo many people think osteoporosis is Too many people think osteoporosis is

just part of aging….. It is NOT.just part of aging….. It is NOT.

It is time to get the word out It is time to get the word out

• Osteoporosis can be prevented or Osteoporosis can be prevented or managed.managed.

• A test is available to help diagnose it A test is available to help diagnose it early enough to make a difference.early enough to make a difference.

Prevention is the keyPrevention is the key

Calcium supplements for women Calcium supplements for women between ages of 35 and 43 maybetween ages of 35 and 43 may

• Prevent bone loss and Prevent bone loss and

• Allow women to enter menopause Allow women to enter menopause with greater bone mass.with greater bone mass.

For additional information:For additional information:

• Alabama’s toll free hot line Alabama’s toll free hot line “ “Tone Your Bones”Tone Your Bones” 1-888-934- 1-888-934-BONE (2663) BONE (2663)

• National Osteoporosis National Osteoporosis FoundationFoundation