Osteoporosis Basics - Ignoring the Warning Signs of Osteoporosis

Author:

New York Hospital--Cornell Medical Center

Medically Reviewed On: June 20, 2002

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Q: Who is most at risk of getting osteoporosis?
DAVID ZACKSON, MD: Women are most at risk for developing osteoporosis, although men develop it also.

Q: Do you think of it as a disease of aging?
MARTIN NYDICK, MD, FACP: Age is a major factor. For all of us, bone density decreases with age. The older we get, the more time we have to lose bone. Some women develop the disease fairly quickly in the postmenopausal period because the loss of estrogen associated with menopause accelerates bone loss.

Q: Why do decreased levels of estrogen play a role in osteoporosis?
DAVID ZACKSON, MD: Estrogen has a tonic supportive action on bone, and when estrogen levels fall dramatically as they do suddenly in women during menopause, the bone loss is very rapid for the first several years.

Q: What are some of the other important risk factors associated with osteoporosis?
MARTIN NYDICK, MD, FACP: Estrogen deficiency is the most important factor, but there are also some secondary causes. Calcium, of course, plays an important role in developing and maintaining strong bones, so a calcium deficiency puts one at risk of the disease. People who smoke or drink excessive amounts of alcohol are also at risk. And the disease is much more common in Caucasian and Asian populations. It is also very common in people who are on certain medications, such as corticosteroids, thyroid medication, and anticonvulsants. And finally, people of slight build are also very prone to osteoporosis.

Q: What might be a good parting message for those just learning about this important disease?
MARTIN NYDICK, MD, FACP: People are becoming more and more aware of osteoporosis and what it can do to the body. But only about twenty percent of the people who have the disease are diagnosed and treated. I encourage people to read up on osteoporosis, get familiar with the risks and the prevention techniques, and finally, to talk with their doctors. The first line of defense against this disease is education.