Osteoporosis
~By Dennis Buckley, Doctor of Chiropractic

Osteoporosis is a condition that is characterized by a decrease in bone mass in the body. These bones are more porous and are more susceptible to fracture. The most common sites of fracture are the wrist, spine and hips.

Osteoporosis is a threat for an estimated 44 million Americans, or 55 percent of those 50 years of age or older. In the US today, 10 million are estimated to already have the disease and another 34 million are at risk. Of the 10 million affected, 8 million are women.

The most common form of the disease is primary osteoporosis (Type I). This includes postmenopausal or estrogen deficient women. Type II is age related osteoporosis which affects those over age 70; and idiopathic (Type III) osteoporosis, a rare disorder that affects pre-menopausal women and men who are middle aged or younger.

In 2001 the estimated national direct expenditure (hospital and nursing homes) for osteoporosis was $17 billion or $47 million per day and is rising year after year.

Osteoporosis is called the “silent disease” because bone loss occurs without symptoms. You might not know you have osteoporosis until your bones become so weak that a sudden strain, bump, or fall can cause a fracture. A collapsed vertebra may initially be felt or seen in the form of severe back pain, loss of height, or spinal deformities such as an increase in the curve of the mid back.

A specialized test called a bone density test can measure bone density in various sites of the body. DXA (Dual X-ray Absorptiometry) BMD (Bone Mineral Density) can measure your rate of bone loss and/or monitor the changes.

By age 20, the average woman has acquired 98 percent of her skeletal bone mass. By building strong bones during childhood and adolescence, this can be the best defense against osteoporosis later.

Factors that may influence the maximal peak bone mass are:

• Lack of exercise
• Prolonged use of certain medications
• Diseases or conditions that results in a negative Calcium balance
• Being underweight or having too low body fat
• Cigarette Smoking
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Excessive caffeine consumption
• Poor diet

Women can lose up to 20 percent of their bone mass in the five to seven years following menopause. Peak bone mass is reached around 25 to 35 years of age. Around age 40, bone mass begins to gradually diminish in both sexes with a continuous loss over adult life at a mean rate of 1.2% per year.