Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease of the bone that makes a person’s bones weak and more likely to break. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, approximately 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and another 44 million have low bone density, placing them at increased risk. In addition, 54 million Americans, half of all adults age 50 and older, are at risk of breaking a bone and should be concerned about bone health.
Signs and Symptoms
Osteoporosis is sometimes called “a silent disease” as there aren’t many symptoms leading up to a diagnosis. Things to watch for include:
- Fractures of the hip, spine or wrist, especially from a low impact injury
- Back pain
- Loss of height
- Change in posture, such as a hunchback appearance
Risk Factors
There are many risk factors that increase your chance of developing osteoporosis. Gender and age are most significant. Women over the age of 50 or postmenopausal women have the greatest risk. Ethnicity also is a factor. Caucasian and Asian women are more likely to develop osteoporosis.
Other risk factors include:
- Advancing age
- Certain endocrinological conditions
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Fall history
- Family history of osteoporosis
- Fragility fracture
- Long-term steroid use
- Poor nutrition
- Postmenopausal women
- Smoking
Osteoporosis Clinic
To help patients navigate care needed for osteoporosis and enhance bone health, the Summa Health Women’s Institute offers an osteoporosis program that provides coordination of care across a multidisciplinary team of health professionals including therapy, endocrinology, nutrition, orthopedics, rheumatology and others.
The program offers education on implications of osteoporosis and various treatment options. We work with patients to ensure they get regular screenings to help prevent further complications by osteoporosis.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call
234.867.7606.
