What Is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a disease in which your bones lose their density and quality. It places you at a high risk of easily breaking a bone without experiencing a major trauma or injury. In good health, new bone tissue constantly replaces old bone tissue in your body. However, if you have osteoporosis, the rate of bone destruction is higher than the rate of new bone formation. As a result, you'll have weaker bones.
Osteopenia vs. Osteoporosis
Osteopenia (low bone density) is a stage of bone loss that occurs before osteoporosis. It means that your bones are weaker than normal. You may also break your bones. Over time, osteopenia may progress to osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis Symptoms
Experts often call osteoporosis a silent condition because it doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms on its own.
Early Warning Signs of Osteoporosis
Some people don’t know they have osteoporosis until they break a bone. It’s crucial to have bone density screenings as you age because there are no early warning signs of osteoporosis.
Does Osteoporosis Cause Pain?
Osteoporosis doesn’t cause pain unless it causes a painful bone fracture. Some people have other conditions that cause pain, such as arthritis or a herniated disc, along with osteoporosis. But the condition itself doesn’t cause pain.
Does Osteoporosis Make You Tired?
Osteoporosis doesn’t make you tired. If you feel more fatigued than usual, it’s likely related to another condition or general aging and not osteoporosis.
What Causes Osteoporosis?
Your bones are always forming and getting destroyed. Osteoporosis occurs when the rate of bone formation slows down and the rate of bone destruction goes up.
The most common cause of osteoporosis is estrogen deficiency. Lower estrogen levels, seen in women after menopause, can weaken bones. A few other common causes include the following:
- Low testosterone in men
- Overactive thyroid or parathyroid glands
- Malabsorption disorders that affect your gut's absorption of calcium and vitamin D, such as celiac disease or colitis
- Weight loss surgery
- Organ transplantation
- Use of long-term steroids
- Cancer treatments that lower your estrogen and testosterone levels
Osteoporosis Risk Factors
Osteoporosis develops most often in postmenopausal women and people over age 70.
You’re also more likely to get osteoporosis if you have a smaller body frame, low body weight, or a family history of osteoporosis. Some lifestyle factors can affect your risk:
- Cigarette smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Inadequate calcium and vitamin D intake
- Lack of exercise
Why Does Osteoporosis Affect More Women Than Men?
Although osteoporosis can occur in anyone, it’s much more common in women. As estrogen levels decline after menopause, women are much more likely to develop the disease.
Is Osteoporosis Genetic?
Research shows that your genetics can play a major role in your risk of developing osteoporosis.
How Quickly Does Osteoporosis Progress?
Osteoporosis tends to progress slowly over several years. It may progress more quickly if you are taking high-dose steroids. The good news is that you can reduce risk factors that cause bone loss to slow or stop the progression of osteoporosis.
Bone Density Screening for Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis doesn’t cause any symptoms in early stages, so getting a bone density scan is especially important. The most common osteoporosis screening tool is a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA or DXA) scan.
Doctors typically recommend that all women over 65 and men over 70 get a DEXA screening. Your provider may advise getting a DEXA bone scan earlier if you have risk factors for osteoporosis. Your provider will perform DEXA scans of your lower spine and hip to check for osteoporosis. They may also scan your forearm.
Osteoporosis Treatment
Osteoporosis treatment involves a combination of lifestyle changes and prescription medications to improve bone density and lower your risk of fractures:
- Optimize your intake of calcium and vitamin D with dietary changes or supplements
- Perform weight-bearing and balance-improving exercises regularly
- Prevent falls
- Limit alcohol intake to less than two drinks daily
- Quit cigarette smoking
- Reduce the use of steroids or other medicines that cause bone loss
Osteoporosis Medications
Your provider will prescribe medicines that improve your bone health: bone builders (anabolics) or bone stabilizers (anti-resorptives). They will discuss the benefits and risks of each, considering your preferences and the cost when choosing the best medication for you. Some osteoporosis medicines are given as an injection in the doctor’s office. Depending on the medicine, it may be every month, every six months, or every year.
Do Calcium Supplements Help Osteoporosis?
Calcium supplements may help maintain bone health. Your provider will review your diet to determine if you need to take a calcium supplement.
Exercises for Osteoporosis
Regular exercise is one of the most effective ways to increase bone health and prevent falls. Weight-bearing exercises, such as low-impact aerobics, walking, stair climbing, or elliptical training are most useful. Exercises like swimming don’t help your bones. Your doctor likely will advise you to avoid high-impact exercises, such as running, jumping, or high-contact sports, to lower your fracture risk.
Exercises to improve your balance and prevent falls are also important. Your doctor may refer you to a physical therapist to learn how to do these exercises safely and effectively.
Osteoporosis Prevention
There’s no guaranteed way to prevent osteoporosis, but you can significantly lower your risk of developing it. The same recommended lifestyle changes that help treat osteoporosis can also help prevent it.
At University of Utah Health, we offer the Build-a-Bone Program to help prevent and mange osteopenia and osteoporosis. During these classes, our medical professionals and educators will teach exercises and nutrition changes and discuss medications to help improve your bone health.
Find an Endocrinology Specialist
Refer a Patient
To refer a patient to the Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Health Program, call 801-581-7761.
Patient Resources
Bone Density Scan
University of Utah Health offers bone density scans—also called DEXA scans—to measure how healthy your bones are.
Osteoporosis Resources
If you've just been diagnosed with osteoporosis, you may be wondering what that means for your health. The good news is that it can be diagnosed and treated.
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